Indian Roundleaf Bat

About this species

Size

Forearm 75–99mm, average 83.5mm

Weight

About 59g

Diet

Beetles, especially scarabs, and other large, slow-flying insects

Habitat

Caves, abandoned tunnels, temples, old forts and chambers under dams and buildings

Range

Indian subcontinent, with marginal populations in Myanmar

Litter size

1 young

Gestation

About 260 days

The Indian roundleaf bat, also known as the large Ceylon leaf-nosed bat, is a large leaf-nosed bat with yellowish-brown fur, darker on the head and shoulders. The forearm averages 83.5 mm, with a range of 75–99 mm, and the average weight is about 59 g. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, with marginal populations in Southeast Asia, and three subspecies occur in India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar; the Indian subspecies is the smallest (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is gregarious, roosting in groups of 50 to several thousand in caves, abandoned tunnels, temples, old forts and chambers under dams and buildings. It is an insectivore, feeding mainly on beetles, especially scarabs, and other large, slow-flying insects. Gestation is about 260 days, with a single young. Disturbance of roosts and collection for food are named threats (Wikipedia, general species account).

Description: Wildlife of India guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)