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Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad

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Subject: Veterinary and Animal Sciences × Author: Nithin Divakar × End date: 2016 × Start date: 2015 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    DIVERSITY, HABITAT PREFERENCE AND FEEDING HABITS OF CHIROPTERANS IN WAYANAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
    (Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 2016-05-12) Nithin Divakar; Arun Zachariah
    Species richness, abundance, roosting habitat and diet composition of bats in different forest types of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary were studied from December 2014 to September 2015. Sampling method included direct observations and mistnetting. A total of ten bat species were reported from six families and eight genera during the study period. Pteropus giganteus was the highest in abundance (538) followed by Megaderma spasma (70), Rhinolophus rouxii (24), Cynopterus sphinx(12) and Kerivoula picta (9). In Muthanga (dry deciduous forest),Cynopterus sphinx, Kerivoula picta, Megaderma spasma and Taphozous species were recorded. In Sulthan Bathery (dry deciduous forest), Pteropus giganteus and Megaderma spasma were found. In Kuruchyad (semi-evergreen forest), only Megaderma spasma was found from just one roost. In Tholpetty (moist-deciduous forest), A total of seven roosts were observed and the roosts were occupied by Rhinolophus rouxii, Kerivoula picta, Pippistrellus sp. and Hipposideros speoris. One road killed Myotis species specimen was also found from this area. Mixed species roosting and seasonal migration was also reported from Tholpetty. Bat species abundance was highest in moist-deciduous forest. Diet composition analysis revealed that guava was the most preferred fruit (37%) of Pteropus giganteus. The analyzed samples also indicated Rhinolophus rouxii to be a generalized insectivorous bat with Lepidoptera forming a major (32%) part of its diet. Diet analysis also revealed that Megaderma spasma fed upon seven insect orders with Coleoptera forming 33% of its prey. This study, although preliminary, provides baseline information of bats found in WWS