INDIAN FLYING FOX BAT: PTEROPUS GIGANTEUS

Latest Context

The nectar- and fruit-eating flying fox (Pteropus giganteus), India's biggest bat species, has gained a new level of attention in a recent study by researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India and the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science.

These flying foxes have been seen to devote a significant amount of their daytime roosting time to environmental surveillance in addition to their nocturnal activity.

Key Highlights of the Study

• The study showed that, in contrast to their nocturnal nature, Pteropus giganteus exhibits alert behaviour while roosting during the day, devoting roughly 7% of their rest time to watching for hazards.
• The study made a distinction between social vigilance (looking out for disputes amongst people nearby) and environmental vigilance (looking out for danger indications in the surroundings).
• The study's findings, which support the edge effect concept, showed that bats' degrees of attentiveness changed depending on where they were located inside their roosting trees.
• These bats, a keystone species noted for their nectar and fruit-eating habits, provide a large contribution to pollination and seed dissemination, which is essential for preserving the biodiversity and health of ecosystems.
• A keystone species is one that, about its abundance, has an outsized impact on the environment, affects numerous other creatures in an ecosystem, and influences the types and numbers of other species in an ecological community.
• The results highlight how crucial it is to safeguard Pteropus giganteus and its habitat to maintain both the ecosystem's overall balance and its ecological function.

Facts about Pteropus giganteus

• The amazing bat species Pteropus giganteus, sometimes referred to as the Indian flying fox, is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent.
• Appearance:

• The huge stature and fox-like facial traits of Pteropus giganteus are its defining characteristics.
• usually has a body that is dark brown, grey, or black, with a distinctive yellow mantle (characteristic of the Pteropus genus).
• In general, males are bigger than females.

• Geographic Range: From Pakistan to China and as far south as the Maldive Islands, South Central Asia's tropical climates are home to Pteropus giganteus.
• Habitat: Large groups of individuals roost in trees such as banyan, fig, and tamarind. Roosting trees are usually in the vicinity of a body of water. These animals can be found in forests and swamps.
• Conservation Status:

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule II
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix II

• Negative Impact: Indian flying foxes are regarded as vermin in many areas because they inflict significant harm to fruit crops. Additionally, they may be the source of the Nipah virus, which infects people and can be fatal and spreads disease.

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