There are more than 12oo types of bats all throughout the globe. These flying mammals are widepread and can live under any moderate temperature; however, bats do not sustain extreme temperatures. They are not found in Antarctica or Polar Regions. Normally, people are hesitant to approach bats for the reason that these mammals live in desolate areas like caves or rocky crevice.
Types of Bats
Megabats belong to the family of Megachiroptera and are also known as fruit bats. These types of bats are not the large sized mammals. The length measures around 6 cm (2.4 inches), with the largest specie measures 40 cm (16 inches). They have a wingspan of 150 cm (4.9 feet). The weight of these kinds of bats is about 1 kg (2.2 lb). They have relatively large eyes that help them in visualizing things more clearly. The megabats do not use echolocation. These mammals largely feed on fruits and flower nectar. They have sharp teeth that allow them to eat even the hardest-skin fruit. Megabats are great pollinators in that most plants depend on their seed-splitting activity.
Spotted-winged Fruit Bat
The Spotted-winged Fruit Bat belongs to the family of Balionycteris maculate. These types of small bats are found extensively throughout Malaysia, Borneo Island, and Thailand. These megabats normally roost in trees, caves, and forests. Spotted winged fruit bat is 53 – 62 mm long. They are by far the smallest bats specie. The weight of these mammals is around 10.0 – 16.5 grams. These types of bats primarily found in western Peninsular, Malaysia, Sumatra Galang islands, and islands of Boreo. These kinds of bats prefer to roost in the lowlands or palm trees.
Females give birth to 2 litters every year. The chicks weigh around 3.5 g. The mothers feed milk to their chicks for about 40 – 80 days. These juveniles remain with their mothers and learn some hunting tips from her. The lifespan of spotted winged fruit bats is around 4 years. Deforestation is the major cause of their extinction. Besides, countries like Malaysia and Indonesia have exported great number of palm trees in order to facilitate their own requirements
Lesser Short-nosed Fruit Bat
The Lesser Short-nosed Fruit Bat is related to the Cynopterus brachyotis family. These types of bats usually subside in the Southern Indonesia. They weigh around 21 – 32 g (0.74 – 1.1 oz). They are typically found in the lowlands, rainforests, mangroves, gardens and tropical forests. Lesser short-nosed bats are one of the different types of bats that are brown to yellowish in color. Females are mostly yellowish as against the males. The length of the tail measures around 8 – 10 mm (0.3 – 0.4 inches), along with the 14 – 16 mm (0.5 – 0.6 inches) long ears.
The lifespan of these kinds of bats is 20 – 30 years. These bats largely feed on fruits’ juices and nectar. The period of gestation ranges from 3.5 to 4.0 months. These types of bats turn out to be mature after 1 year. They are normally found roosting in trees, rock crevice, and caves. These bats are widely distributed throughout Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Sumatra, Philippines, Thailand, Burma, China, Sri Lanka, and Kangean Islands.
Species of Lesser Short-nosed Fruit Bat
- Pachysoma brachyotis
- P. duvaucelii
- C. nusatenggara
- C. archipelagus
- C. montanoi
- C. marginatus var. andamanensis
- C. marginatus var. cuminggii
Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat
The Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bats belong to the family of Cynopterus sphinx and is endemic to South and Southeast Asia. These types of bats have a wingspan of 48 cm, and the forearm is 70.2 mm (64 – 79 mm) long. Like the lesser short nosed bats, these bats are mainly live in China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Laos. They build their habitats in subtropical forests, and grasslands.
These bats roost in a group comprising 8 – 10 individuals. The gestation period of these types of bats lasts for 4 – 5 months. The newly born chicks weigh around 13.5 grams, with a wingspan of about 24 cm. The juveniles weigh 25 grams along