Indian flying fox: Difference between revisions
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== Disease transmission == |
== Disease transmission == |
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Like other fruit bats, the Indian flying fox may be a [[natural reservoir]] for a number of diseases including certain [[henipavirus]]es and [[coronavirus]]es. |
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These can prove fatal to humans and domestic animals.<ref name=NatGeo>National Geographic, October 2007. "Deadly Contact," David Quammen, pp. 78-105.</ref><ref>McLaughlin AB, Epstein JH, Prakash V, Smith CS, Daszak P, Field HE, Cunningham AA.Plasma biochemistry and hematologic values for wild-caught flying foxes (Pteropus giganteus) in India.J Zoo Wildl Med. 2007 Sep;38(3):446-52.</ref> |
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Indian flying foxes in India and Bangladesh have tested positive for [[Henipavirus#Nipah virus|Nipah virus]], which is a type of henipavirus. |
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Due to human encroachment into their habitats, there is a high risk of [[spillover infection]] of Nipah virus from Indian flying foxes to humans.<ref name="Epstein 2008">{{cite journal| last1=Epstein| first1= J. H.| last2= Prakash| first2= V.| last3= Smith| first3= C. S.| last4= Daszak| first4= P.| last5= McLaughlin| first5= A. B.| last6= Meehan| first6= G.| last7=Cunningham| first7= A. A.| date=2008| title= Henipavirus infection in fruit bats (Pteropus giganteus), India| journal= Emerging infectious diseases| volume= 14| issue=8| pages= 1309-1311| doi=10.3201/eid1408.071492}}</ref> |
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==In culture== |
==In culture== |
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Revision as of 22:04, 2 February 2018
| Indian flying fox | |
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| Jamtra, Madhya Pradesh, India | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | P. giganteus
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| Binomial name | |
| Pteropus giganteus (Brünnich, 1782)
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| Indian flying fox range | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Pteropus ariel Allen, 1908 | |
The Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus), also known as the greater Indian fruit bat, is a species of flying fox in the family Pteropodidae. It is nocturnal and feeds mainly on ripe fruits, such as mangoes and bananas, and nectar.
Description
The Indian flying fox may be the world's largest bat, weighting up to 3.5 lb (1.6 kg).[3]
The bat ranges in color, with a black back that is lightly streaked with grey, a pale, yellow-brown mantle, a brown head, and dark, brownish underparts. The bat has large eyes, simple ears, and no facial ornamention, a typical appearance for a species of the Pteropus genus.[4]
Its body mass ranges from 600–1,600 g (21–56 oz), and males are generally larger than females. The wingspan of the bat ranges from 1.2–1.5 m (3 ft 11 in – 4 ft 11 in) and body length averages 23 cm (9.1 in). Bats maintain a body temperature between 33–37 °C (91–99 °F) through constant activity.[5]
Taxonomy
It was described as a new species in 1782 by Danish zoologist Morten Thrane Brünnich. Brünnich gave it the scientific name Vespertilio gigantea.[6] Its species name "giganteus" is of Latin origin, meaning "giant." The Indian flying fox closely resembles Lyle's flying fox, but most authorities consider them separate species. Lyle's flying fox is similar, but the major difference is the hue of underparts.[4]
Distribution and habitat
The Indian flying fox roosts in large, established colonies on open tree branches, including in urban areas or in temples.[4]
It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, China (Tibet), Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.[7]
It is classified as Least concern (LC) due to its wide range and apparent adaptability.[1] A decline in Indian Flying Fox populations would be obvious, as reductions would presage decreases in forest regeneration and diversity, and major declines in economically important crops.[8] Populations are slowly declining in Pakistan, as orchard owners become less tolerant and more people hunt the bats for their fat, thought to be a cure for rheumatism, and populations are close to becoming endangered in the Maldive islands from sanctioned killings in response to apparent destruction of fruit crops by the bats.[9]
Ecology
Diet
The Indian flying fox is frugivorous or nectarivorous, i.e., they eat fruits or lick nectar from flowers. At dusk, these bats forage for ripe fruit. While ingesting fruit, these bats expel waste that pollinates and disperse seeds.[10]
Behavior
The bat roosts communally in a single tree or few local trees. Within the roost the bats quarrel and chatter often. Occasionally a single or few bats will fly around the roost during the day, but most activity is restricted to night, when they leave the roost one by one. The bats fly with the appearance of a large swarm but forage individually, and will give off contact calls infrequently. The bat searches for food with sight. The bat can travel quickly up and down tree branches to forage for fruit with a swift hand-over-hand motion.[10]
Reproduction
Mating System
P. giganteus is a polygynandrous species, and breeds yearly from July to October. Births occur from February to May. Gestation period is typically 140 to 150 days. The average birth number is 1 to 2 pups. Among members of the genus Pteropus, pups are carried by the mother for the first few weeks of life, with weaning occurring around 5 months of age. Males do not participate in parental care. Young bats learn to fly at approximately 11 weeks of age. Reproductive maturity occurs at 1.5 years.[5]
Disease transmission
Like other fruit bats, the Indian flying fox may be a natural reservoir for a number of diseases including certain henipaviruses and coronaviruses. These can prove fatal to humans and domestic animals.[11][12] Indian flying foxes in India and Bangladesh have tested positive for Nipah virus, which is a type of henipavirus. Due to human encroachment into their habitats, there is a high risk of spillover infection of Nipah virus from Indian flying foxes to humans.[13]
In culture
Despite the Indian government classifying bats as "vermin", the Indian flying fox is sacred in India. In Puliangulam, India, a banyan tree in the middle of agriculture fields is home to a colony of 500 Indian flying foxes. The bats are protected by Muniyandi, and the villagers make offerings of bananas and rice to the spirit and the bats.[14]
Gallery
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Great Indian Fruit Bat, Indian painting -
A colony at Kolkata Zoo -
In Kerala -
In flight in Madhya Pradesh, India
_in_flight.jpg)
Notes
- 1.^ Probably misspelt rubricollis or rubicollis
References
- ^ a b Molur, S., Srinivasulu, C., Bates, P. & Francis, C. (2008). Pteropus giganteus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.
- ^ Jiri Mlikovsky (2012-06-17). "Correct name for the Indian flying fox (Pteropodidae)" (PDF). ceson.org. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
- ^ Nowak, R. M., editor (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World. Vol. 1. 6th edition. Pp. 264-271. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
- ^ a b c Charles M. Francis, Priscilla Barrett (2008). A Field Guide to the Mammals of South-East Asia (illustrated ed.). New Holland Publishers. p. 196. ISBN 9781845377359.
- ^ a b E. Silbernagel (2005). "ADW: Pteropus giganteus: INFORMATION". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
- ^ Brünnich, M. T. (1782). Dyrenes Historie og Dyre-Samlingen udi Universitetets Natur-Theater. Trykt hos Hofbogtrykker Nicolaus Moller, 1782. p. 45-48.
- ^ Molur, S., Srinivasulu, C., Bates, P. & Francis, C. (2008). Pteropus giganteus (Indian Flying-fox). Retrieved 2018-02-02.
{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Mohammad Ali Reza Kha, ed. (2014). The Festschrift on the 50th anniversary of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Compilation of papers and abstracts. IUCN. p. 63. ISBN 9789843383648.
- ^ Ronald M. Nowak (1999). Ronald M. Nowak (ed.). Walker's Mammals of the World (illustrated ed.). JHU Press. p. 269. ISBN 9780801857898.
- ^ a b Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne (2016). Mammals of Sri Lanka. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 20. ISBN 9781472932884.
- ^ National Geographic, October 2007. "Deadly Contact," David Quammen, pp. 78-105.
- ^ McLaughlin AB, Epstein JH, Prakash V, Smith CS, Daszak P, Field HE, Cunningham AA.Plasma biochemistry and hematologic values for wild-caught flying foxes (Pteropus giganteus) in India.J Zoo Wildl Med. 2007 Sep;38(3):446-52.
- ^ Epstein, J. H.; Prakash, V.; Smith, C. S.; Daszak, P.; McLaughlin, A. B.; Meehan, G.; Cunningham, A. A. (2008). "Henipavirus infection in fruit bats (Pteropus giganteus), India". Emerging infectious diseases. 14 (8): 1309–1311. doi:10.3201/eid1408.071492.
- ^ Nanditha Krishna (2010). Sacred Animals of India. Penguin Books India. p. 142. ISBN 9780143066194.