Short-nosed Fruit Bat Cynopterus Sphinx Research Articles

New records of Short-nosed Fruit Bat Cynopterus sphinx (Vahl, 1797) from Thar Desert, Rajasthan

© Zoo Outreach Organisation; www.zoosprint.org Manuscript 1428; Received 03 September 2005; Revised received 14 July 2006; Finally accepted 20 August 2006; Date of publication 21 September 2006 The Short-nosed Fruit Bat Cynopterus sphinx is distributed widely in the Indian subcontinent and in south-east Asia. Within India it occurs commonly and is widespread (Bates & Harrison, 1997; Molur et al., 2002). Although it has been reported from southern and southwestern Rajasthan (Sinha, 1980; Advani, 1982; Molur et al., 2002; Dookia, 2004), we could find no previous reference to its presence in the parts of northwestern Rajasthan. Recently, we recorded this species for the first time in Thar desert of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur districts of Rajasthan (Fig. 1).

Annual reproductive synchronization in ovary and pineal gland function of female short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx

We studied the annual correlation of ovarian activity and pineal gland in relation with seasonal variation and gestation of a tropical zone short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx. Female bats showed bimodal polyestry (February/March and September/October) in their reproductive cycle. Plasma estradiol concentration ran parallel with ovarian activity and had an inverse relation with pineal mass and peripheral melatonin concentration. Due to the delayed embryonic development in the uterus (October–March) of female bats, interestingly, the uterine activity did not show a parallel relation with ovarian activity and estradiol level. Further, compared with normal non-pregnant females, melatonin level was high during gestation and delayed embryonic development phase. This suggests that the reproductive synchrony and annual variation in ovarian activity of this nocturnal flying mammal differ from other common tropical mammals. The delayed embryonic development in bats might be an adaptive strategy for the unfavorable conditions of the seasons and might be regulated by high peripheral estradiol and melatonin concentration.

Olfactory discrimination ability of the short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx

ABSTRACT We carried out a set of experiments on a megachiropteran bat Cynopterus sphinx to examine its olfactory discrimination ability to a variety of food odor substances. We used seven undiluted odorants such as isoamyl acetate, ethyl acetate, hexanol, benzaldehyde, limonene, pinene, and dimethyl disulfide for odor discrimination experiments. These volatile substances are present at various quantities in the natural food (fruits and nectar) of C. sphinx. Equal amount (200 μl) of seven odor substances kept individually but simultaneously in seven of eight specimen tubes which were equipped in a radially and horizontally arranged experimental set-up. In addition to the odorants, about 5 mm pieces of any one of the fruits such as guava, papaya and sapota were offered in cups as reward to the bats. The behavior of bats was observed visually and number of bat-visits to the odorants, and to the scentless control was continuously recorded in an event recorder. The mean number of approaches made by the bats di...

SOLITARY ADULT MALES IN A POLYGYNOUS-MATING BAT (CYNOPTERUS SPHINX): A FORCED OPTION OR A STRATEGY?

Abstract The Indian short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus sphinx) is thought to use a resource-based polygynous mating system. Breeding colonies typically consist of a few harems with 1 or more solitary males nearby. Essential to understanding the mating system of C. sphinx is identification of the reasons for solitary roosting behavior in adult males. In this study, we attempt to elucidate the impetus behind solitary roosting by investigating the following 2 questions: Are solitary males less competitive and so remain isolated from breeding activities? Are trees and foliage suitable for tent-making a scarce resource? We carried out weekly censuses and mark–recapture studies from January to December 2000. We assessed impact of available resources on roosting patterns of adult males. Examination of our results suggests the following about the mating system of these bats. Female aggregation in C. sphinx cannot be attributed to scarce resources. Morphological variables did not differ between harem and nonharem m...

Dispersal patterns of the short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae)

Dispersal patterns of the short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae)

Postnatal Development in the Indian Short-Nosed Fruit BatCynopterus sphinx: Growth Rate and Age Estimation

We studied the patterns of postnatal growth and changes in length of forearm, body mass and total epiphyseal gap in the captive free-flying short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx. At birth young were altricial. By day five, their eyes had opened, and the pinnae become unfolded between sixth and ninth day of age. At the age of three days, the mean forearm length and body mass were equivalent to 42.2% and 18.2%, respectively of the values of postpartum females. The length of forearm increased linearly until 36 days and attained 94.1% of mean forearm length of postpartum females at the age of 219 days. Body mass of pups increased linearly until 60 days and attained 72.7% of mean mass of postpartum females at the age of 219 days. The length of total epiphyseal gap of fourth metacarpal-phalangeal joint increased until 15 days of age and subsequently decreased linearly, and closed at about 60 days of age. The age predicting equation based on the length of forearm is valid when its dimensions are between 29.4 mm and 52.4 mm (3–36 days of age). Similar equation but based on the length of total epiphyseal gap is valid when its dimensions range from 47.0 µm to 6.0 µm (15–60 days of age). Growth patterns of forearm length and body mass were best described by the logistic and Gompertz nonlinear growth models, respectively. There was no significant difference in the growth patterns of body mass and length of total epiphyseal gap with reference to lengths of forearm of captive and wild-grown pups.

Early ontogeny of foraging behaviour in the short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx (Megachiroptera) : preliminary results

Nous avons evalue par radiotelemetrie les relations entre la femelle de Cynopterus sphinx et ses jeunes au cours de la fin de la lactation et du sevrage. D'apres nos observations, les jeunes C. sphinx peuvent etre instruits par leurs meres au cours de cette periode. Avant qu'ils soient sevres, les femelles leur rendent visite par intermittence a l'occasion des periodes de nourrissage nocturne. Au cours du sevrage, les meres chassent pres de leurs refuges de jour et sont accompagnees par leurs jeunes ou chassent pres d'eux. Nous pensons que l'apprentissage par l'observation, au cours de la fin de la lactation et du sevrage, se produit quand les jeunes accompagnent leurs meres lorsqu'elles chassent au vol. Ainsi, les jeunes chauves-souris peuvent avoir l'opportunite d'apprendre la localisation des endroits les plus riches en nourriture.

Greater Short-Nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus sphinx) Foraging and Damage in Vineyards in India

The Greater short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx (Vahl, 1797) is one among the 14 species of Old World fruit bats occurring in the Indian subcontinent and has been recently reported to cause economic loss to commercial fruit crops. We studied the temporal patterns of foraging and magnitude of loss caused by C. sphinx in Andhra Pradesh, India. Observations carried out over a period of 36 nights in 1-ha plots of vineyards revealed that the species foraged in groups of 2–8 individuals with two peaks in foraging activity reflecting their behavioural adaptability in response to food quality and quantity. The magnitude of loss due to foraging of C. sphinx gradually decreased from the periphery of the plot to the centre. Along the periphery the extent of damage was > 90%. No damage was recorded in the central regions of either plots. Greater short-nosed fruit bat foraging in vineyards cause a revenue loss of ca. US$ 590 ha-1.

Observations on food and roosting habits of Indian Short-nosed Fruit Bat Cynopterus sphinx (Vahl) (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) at the I.I.Sc. Campus, Bangalore

Observations on food and roosting habits of Indian Short-nosed Fruit Bat Cynopterus sphinx (Vahl) (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) at the I.I.Sc. Campus, Bangalore