Indian Greater False-vampire

About this species

Size

6.5–9.5cm long; forearm 6.5–7.2cm

Weight

40–60g

Diet

Other bats, birds, reptiles, fish and insects

Range

South and Southeast Asia, from Afghanistan and India to Vietnam

Litter size

1–2 pups

Gestation

150–160 days

The greater false vampire bat, also called the Indian false vampire bat, is 6.5–9.5 cm long and weighs 40–60 g, with a forearm of 6.5–7.2 cm. It has large ears, no tail, blue-grey fur with brownish underparts and an erect nose-leaf of about 10 mm. It occurs from Afghanistan, Pakistan and India through Southeast Asia to China (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is strongly carnivorous, taking other bats, birds, reptiles, fish and insects. About 85% of prey is taken on low searching flights, and it also hunts from a perch; it has been seen catching prey in complete darkness without echolocation. Gestation is 150–160 days, with one or two pups nursed for two to three months. The cached account gives nothing specific to India (Wikipedia, general species account).

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