Roost Selection of the Short-Nosed Fruit Bat, Cynopterus spp. in Sri Lanka

Abstract

A total of 160 day roosts of short nosed fruit bats (Cynopterus sp.) were examined during a 3 year study in Sri Lanka. Day roosts were found in five species of trees; Talipot palm (Corypha umbraculiferay), Coconut (Cocos nucifera), Banana(Musa sp.), Habarala (Alocasia sp.) and Kitul (Caryota urens). A11 the day roostsfound in this study can be categorized in to three groups, viz, tents, foliage roosts and seed string roosts. Majority (92%) of day roosts were in the form of tents, all of which were found in the talipot palm. Foliage roosts ( 7%) were found in three species of plants (c. nucifera, Musa sp., Alocasia sp.) while two (1%) of the roosts were found in Kitul palm, inside the seed strings. Our observations indicate that the tents are constructed by male bats and serve as the primary roosts of the Cynopterus.