Short-nosed Fruit Bat and its Tents

Rajesh Puttaswamaiah


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Chosen as 'Picture of the Week'

This bat species is widely distributed from much of South Asia, through southern China and most of Southeast Asia. These are one of the few bats that alter the habitat to create their own space.

Short-nosed Fruit Bats (Cynopterus sphinx) make their own roosts in the form of hanging tents. These tents are usually made in palm trees, either within the fruiting pods or dry leaves, by removing the center portion of pods/leaves. This small colony made their tent within a Fishtail Palm (Caryota urens). These palms are best suited for these bats and make a great case to encourage planting them in urban parks and gardens.

These were photographed in a park near my house. I have been observing them roosting in these tents and changing them as the pods wither away. These are one of the few bats that alter the habitat to create their own space.

This species is widely distributed from much of South Asia through southern China, most of mainland and insular Southeast Asia according to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

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About the author

Rajesh Puttaswamaiah

A naturalist by passion and an immigration lawyer by profession who has dedicated his free time to study and conserve bats through an NGO he setup (Bat Conservation India Trust).



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