Cynopterus brachyotis is commonly known as the Lesser Short-Nosed Fruit Bat.  It is small in size and is obviously an herbivore from its fruit-eating diet.  The population of the Lesser Short-Nosed Fruit Bat appears to be widely distributed throughout South West India.  It is on the least concerned list but it’s decreasing in population.

 

The Lesser Short-Nosed Fruit Bat is a small bat, its size consisting of 21-32 grams in weight and about 72-90 mm in length.  Identifying marks for these bats are white highlights on the tips of their ears and wing bones.  The gender of the Lesser Short-Nosed Fruit Bat can be identified by its different color throughout the body.  Females are generally brown to yellowish brown with its bright collar being yellow, while males are easily identified by their collars being a darker orange.  Their strong feet, large eyes, and a strong sense of smell help it adapts to its environment very well.  Their strong sense of smell and large eyes comes in handy for they don’t echolocate.  They don’t echolocate because they don’t prey on other animals, for their food doesn’t perform locomotion. They have strong feet so they can climb up and cling on to branches while eating.
 

The Lesser Short-Nosed Fruit Bat is distributed widely around Southwest India; mostly living in or on islands, rainforests, oil palm plantations, gardens, and mangroves.  They become active a little after sunset and fly directly to their food.  They live high in trees or in crevices, it does them good for that they don’t have many predators living so high in the trees.  They keep themselves up and alive by feeding at night and resting during the day.

Lesser Short-Nosed Fruit Bats are not extinct; actually, they are on the least concern list.  All though with their population declining, they might just end up to be on an endangered list.  They are slowly declining by threats, for the deforestation to make way for timber and oil palm plantations.  In the cultural region, as of “1982, the population was an estimated 94 million or 20.5% of the world’s total.”Source: Encyclopedia Americana; edition: 25.
 

The Lesser-Short Nosed Fruit Bats are herbivores and mostly prefer well fruit.  They also like to eat nectar and pollen from flowers.  The Lesser Short-Nosed Fruit Bat likes assorted fruits such as mangoes and figs.  To get food from the fruit, they suck the juice out of it.  A little after sunset they go out and feed while circling around a fruit tree and may even fly up to 2km away to get their food.  From research, there is no competition for food, possibly the occasional hummingbird or another bat, but, none that I know of for sure. They also don’t seem to have a major role in the food web.

 

The Short-Nosed Fruit Bat does not have predators to pacifically name of; most bats have predators of tarantulas, owls, hawks, snakes, raccoons, opossums, and skunks.  They do not have many predators because of their habitat.  But, by hanging upside down on ceilings of caves or in trees they are less likely to become prey. 

 

Cynopterus brachyotis is an interesting animal and has a lot of unique qualities.  The fact that they have a tail and it is actually 10-16 mm in length.  It is also very interesting that they are fruit-eating and are totally herbivores, unlike other bats that eat field mice and other small animals.

Cynopterus Brachyotis also known as the common Lesser Short-Nosed Fruit Bat, is an interesting and unique animal and is considered a least concern and with the slow loss of habitat may become a concern.  Small in size, lives high in trees, an herbivore, makes up this wonderful, unique bat.

Author: Avery L.
Published: 03/2012

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Picture Credit:
http://www.eol.org/pages/327318