The present study was designed to investigate the morphometric variations in the Indian flying fox populations inhabiting NWFP and Punjab. Intensive field efforts resulted in finding out three roosts of Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) at NWFP (one each in Peshawar, Charsadda and Mardan districts and two in Punjab (one each in Gujranwala and Kasur districts). Four specimens each, from the three bat roosts of NWFP and, three specimens each from two bat roosts of Punjab were captured and euthanized to study the inter-population variations in the Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus).

The results of the inter-population variations revealed that bat samples collected from Charsadda district were not significantly different from those collected from Peshawar district. They were also not different significantly from those collected from Kasur district. The Peshawar bats also showed no significant variation with respect to their cranial depth, breadth of upper incisors, maximum dentary length and mandibular tooth row with those collected from Gujranwala as well as other districts of Charsadda, Mardan and Ksur too.

The bat sample collected from Charsadda district were also not significantly different from those collected from Mardan district with respect to their body weight, length of 3 metacarpal, length of l phalanyx on third metacarpal, length of 2' phalanyx on metacarpal, length 41 metacarpal, wingspan and length of femur, respectively.

Whereas these specimens were not different from Gujranwala specimens in all the norphometric parameters measured. Mardan bat specimens were also not difibrent from Gujranwala bat specimens with respect to their mastoid breadth, length of the incisor of the upper jaw and mandibular tooth row, respectively.

The specimens collected from Kasur district were not significantly different from Peshawar, Mardan, and Gujranwala with respect to the length of the desired parameters taken. Inter- population variations in all other comparisons were statistically similar.

Combined inter-populations variations in the body weight, external body and cranial measurements of the Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) captured from Punjab and NWFP. Of the 22 parameters studied, both populations were not significantly different ft)r any parameter. There were also no significant variations in the length of the Claw (C), Length oF the 5th metacarpal (5tI1 met) and the Condylobasal length (CBL). While the cranial depth (CR1)).

Breadth of the incisors of upper jaw (J2J2), maximum dentary length (MDL) and mandibular tooth row length (MBTR) were also not different significantly in these specimens captired from two populations of Punjab and NWFP. A comparison of the two populations revealed that NWFP population had no significantly broader ear, longer femur, and deeper cranium, broader incisors of the upper jaw, longer dentary bone and longer mandibular tooth row with respect to Punjab.

The body weight, external body and cranial measurements of the male and female Indian flying fox (Pleropus giganteus) populations captured from Punjab and NWFP were also had no 1significant variations in all the 22 parameters measured.