Recent study, conducted by scientists from the Centre for Ecological Sciences in the Indian Institute of Science and the Wildlife Institute of India, the nectar and fruit-eating flying fox (Pteropus giganteus), India’s largest bat species, has taken on a new dimension of interest.Beyond its nocturnal activities, these flying foxes have been found to spend a notable portion of their day-roosting time engaged in environmental vigilance.
flying fox
- This bat is a mega bat, which is also known as flying fox.
- Bats of this species are considered to be one of the largest bats found in the world.
- It is a species of flying fox found in the Indian subcontinent.
- This bat is a fruitarian. It is not a fox at all, but a type of bat, whose face and head resemble those of a fox.
- These flying foxes live in tropical forests and swamps.
- The Indian flying fox comes from the Pteropodidae family of bats.
- All bats of the genus Pteropus of the Pteropodidae family are natural carriers of Nipah virus.
- According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the population of about half of all flying fox species is declining.
- Of these species, the IUCN classifies 15 as vulnerable and 11 as endangered.
- Flying foxes were previously classified in the suborder Megachiroptera, but most researchers now place them in the suborder Yinpterochiroptera, which includes the superfamily Rhinolophoidea.
- Diverse species of flying foxes including horseshoe bats, trident bats, mouse-tailed bats and others.
Key Highlights of the Study
- The study unveiled that Pteropus giganteus practices vigilant behaviour during daylight roosting, dedicating about 7% of their resting time to watch for dangers, contrary to their nocturnal nature.
- The study distinguished between social vigilance (observing nearby individuals for conflicts) and environmental vigilance (watching for signs of danger in the surroundings).
- The study observed that vigilance levels varied based on the spatial positioning of the bats within roosting trees, confirming the edge effect hypothesis.
- These bats, acting as a keystone species known for their nectar and fruit-eating habits, contribute significantly to pollination and seed dispersal, thereby playing a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health and biodiversity.
- A keystone species is one that has a disproportionately large effect on its natural environment relative to its abundance, impacting many other organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of other species in an ecological community.
- The findings emphasize the urgency of protecting Pteropus giganteus and its habitat to ensure the preservation of its ecological role and the overall balance of the ecosystem.