Wroughton's Giant Mastiff Bat

About this species

Size

Forearm 63–67mm

Habitat

Caves; narrow gaps and deep hollows in cave roofs

Range

Western Ghats (Karnataka), and Meghalaya in north-east India; also Cambodia

Litter size

1 young a year

Wroughton's free-tailed bat has a forearm of 63–67 mm, large forward-pointing ears connected by a membrane over the forehead, and a pale greyish-white shoulder and nape. It was long thought to be confined to the Western Ghats of India but has also been reported from north-east India and a remote part of Cambodia. Females are thought to have one litter a year, of a single young (Wikipedia, general species account).

In India it is found in two locations in Karnataka, including the Barapede Caves in Belgaum district near Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary, which was for years the only known site, and in Meghalaya, pending confirmation. It roosts upside down in caves by day, in small groups of usually five to seven in narrow gaps and deep hollows in the cave roofs, and is active at night. Its diet is unknown but probably insects, as in other free-tailed bats (Wikipedia, general species account).

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