Sana Ashraf

Habitat, Morphology And General Biology Of Bats Of Fmaily Embellonuridae - 2010

The present study was designed to investigate habitat, morphology and general biology of the bats belonging to family Embellonuridae from Punjab. A total of fifteen specimens of sheath- tailed bats belonging to two species were captured from Attock and Bahawalpur districts and identified. These included eleven specimens of the naked-rumped tomb bat (Taphozous nudiventris) and four specimens of Egyptian tomb bat (T. perforates). The later species is a new record from the present study area.

A roost of sheath-tailed bats was located with help of some locals in the suburbs of the Ratowal village in Attock district from where four naked-rumped tomb bats (T. nudiventris) were captured with the help of hand net. Acacia catechu, A. nilotica, A. modesta, Bauhinia variegate, Olea ferruginea, Phylianthus emblica and Quercus leucotrichophora were the main tree species present in the area while the shrubs included Carissa opaca, Calotropis procera, Dodonaea viscose, Justica adhatoda and Otostegia limbata. A ilium jaquemontii, Arundo donax, Cannabis sativa, Centaurea iberica, Eulophia dabia, Geranium oceiiatum and Hibiscus caesius, were some notable herb species in that habitat.

Approximately three hundred bats were roosting on the walls and ceiling of the shrine located in the vicinity of Mojgarh from where five bats were captured. Two of these were Egyptian tomb bats (T. perforatus) while the remaining three were naked-rumped tomb bats (T. nudiventris). Six hundred and thirty five bats were counted on the walls and ceilings of various rooms of the ruined Derawar Fort of which six bats were captured. One of these was T perforatus while the remainings were T. nudiventris.

The mean body weight of the eleven T. nudiventris was 48.7 g ± 11.63 (SD) while their head and body length was 87.9 mm ± 6.20 (SD). Free tail, ear and tragus were 17.3 mm ± 3.38 (SD), 13.9 mm± 2.21 (SD) and 4.1 mm ± 0.54 (SD) long, respectively. The forearm was 70.5 mm ± 0.93 (SD) long. Thumb and claw were 7.8 mm ± 0.84 (SD) and 2.5 ± 0.35 (SD) long respectively. The mean length of 3', 4th and 5th metacarpals was 62.3 mm ± 2.54 (SD), 50.6 mm ± 2.28 (SD) and 38.2 mm ± 9.78 (SD), respectively. The 1st and 2'' phalanges of 3rd metacarpal
27.3 mm ± 1.03 (SD) and 28.6 mm ± 2.40 (SD) long, respectively while the same on 4th metacarpal were 13.6 mm ± 2.63 (SD) and 8.3 mm ± 1.03 (SD) long, respectively. Their wingspan was 36.6 mm ± 3.28 (SD). Hind foot, tibia and calcar were 14.8 mm ± 1.40 (SD), 29.0 mm ± 1.10 (SD) and 5.6 mm ± 1.91 (SD) long, respectively while male had a 5.8 mm ± 1.39 (SD) long penis.
A total of four specimens of the Egyptian tomb bat were collected from Bhawalpur district at Mojgarh (n = 2), Derawar fort (n= 1), and Rattowal (n= 1) from Attock district in the areas of Punjab. The mean body weight of these specimens was 37.6 g ± 15.07 (SD). Their mean head and body, free tail and ear length was 82.0 mm ± 4.40 (SD), 21.0 mm ± 2.16 (SD) and 15.0 mm ± 3.16 (SD), respectively. The mean length of tragus was 4.0 mm ± 0.00 (SD). Length of the forearm was 63.8 mm ± 1.50 (SD). Length of thumb and of claw was 8.0 mm ± 0.71 (SD) and 2.8 ± 0.29 (SD). The mean length of 3rd metacarpal , 1st phalanx on 3fd metacarpal and 2' phalanx on 3ft metacarpal were 59.6 mm ± 6.57 (SD), 25.1 mm ± 1.65 (SD) and 27.4mm ±2.43 (SD) respectively. The mean length of 4th maetacarpal and it's 1st and 2nd halanx were 47.0 mm ± 2.86 (SD), 13.4mm±1.60 (SD) and 7.8mm ± 2.25 (SD), respectively. The4 mean length of 5th metacarpal was 40.8 mm± 6.99(SD) Their wingspan was 30.9mm ±1.80 (SD). Hind foot and tiabia length was 15.5mm ± 1.29 (SD). Their calcar and penis length was 6.0mm ±1.41 (SD) and 5.9 mm± 1.93 (SD) respectively.



Department of Wildlife and Ecology

1195,T


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