Recent surveys of bats from the Andaman Islands, India: diversity, distribution, and echolocation characteristics
Author
Srinivasulu, Chelmala
Wildlife Biology and Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana State 500007, India & Systematics, Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Zoo Outreach Organization, 96, Kumudham Nagar, Vilankurichi Road, Coimbatore 641035, India & Corresponding author: E-mail: chelmalasrinivasulu @ gmail. com
chelmalasrinivasulu@gmail.com
Author
Srinivasulu, Aditya
Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society, 303 Nestcon Orchid, Kanajiguda, Tirumalgiri, Secunderabad, Telangana State 500015, India
Author
Srinivasulu, Bhargavi
Wildlife Biology and Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana State 500007, India & Systematics, Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Zoo Outreach Organization, 96, Kumudham Nagar, Vilankurichi Road, Coimbatore 641035, India
Author
Gopi, Asad
Wildlife Biology and Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana State 500007, India
Author
Dar, Tauseef Hamid
Wildlife Biology and Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana State 500007, India
Author
Bates, Paul J. J.
Harrison Institute, Bowerwood House, 15 St Botolph’s Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN 13 3 AQ, United Kingdom
Author
Rossiter, Stephen J.
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E 1 4 NS, United Kingdom
Author
Jones, Gareth
School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, University of Bristol, Bristol BS 8 1 TQ, United Kingdom
text
Acta Chiropterologica
2017
2017-12-01
19
2
419
437
journal article
21510
10.3161/15081109ACC2017.19.2.018
3dd13da9-cccb-45a4-862c-d0ffcf9c21a9
1733-5329
3942489
5.
Pteropus melanotus
Blyth, 1863
Black-eared Flying Fox
New record
South Andaman Islands: East Twin Island.
Previous records
South Andaman Islands: No exact location (ZSIK);
Rutland
Island, South Sentinel Island, and Port Blair (
Mason, 1908
;
Hill, 1971
).
Comments
The Andaman Island specimens belong to the subspecies
P. m. tytleri
. Only four specimens were captured and collected. Historically, this species was reported from
Rutland
Island, South Sentinel Island, and Port Blair (
Mason, 1908
;
Hill, 1971
).
Aul
et al.
(2014)
reported the sightings of this species from Paget Island, Kwagtung Island, and Landfall Island in North Andaman Islands; Interview Island in Middle Andaman Islands, and Boat Island and
Rutland
Island in South Andaman Islands. Two specimens labeled
P. melanotus
from Barren Island — collected by Ms. Bandana Aul in the collection of Harrison Institute (HZM 1.34461 and 2.37630) — are misidentified
P. hypomelanus
owing to their smaller forearm length (FA <147.00 mm). We did not come across this species from any other localities except East Twin Island and
Rutland
Island. A large roost of
P. m. tytleri
was located on the East Twin Island, and these bats were seen feeding on East Twin Island and
Rutland
Island in the South Andaman Islands.