- Blanford's Fruit Bat
Taxobox | name = "Sphaerias"
image_caption =
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Mammal ia
ordo =Chiroptera
familia =Pteropodidae
genus = "Sphaerias"
species = "S. blanfordi"
binomial = "Sphaerias blanfordi"
binomial_authority ="Sphaerias blanfordi" (Thomas, 1891). is a mountain
fruit bat . "S. blanfordi" were recorded only from theDoi Suthep Pui National Park inChiengmai, Thailand . According to Lekagul and McNeely (1977), the species is confined to the Thai-Burmese border,Uttar Pradesh inIndia and easternNepal .Biology and ecology
A
male and threefemale "S. blanfordi" were netted in a secondary habitat at 1020 m elevation. In May 1997, an adult female waslactating , two immature female fledglings and a subadult were observed at Doi Suthep. The bats were found in the nets the morning, presumably caught between the last net check at midnight and dawn. All "S. blanfordi" were caught approximately 0.8 m to 1.5 m above the ground. One site had about 50%canopy cover, relatively dense undergrowth with saplings and the net was set across afire break on a slope. The other catching site had about 90% canopy cover, relatively sparse undergrowth with some seedlings,ginger andPandanus plants. The net was set between two clumps of banana plants on a slope. During the survey, the night temperature was cool (approximately 20oC) and misty around daybreak. There is little ecological information recorded for this species (Lekagul and McNeely 1977).External measurements
FA = 52.14, TL = none, EL = 18.58, HD = 27.56, TB = 20.25, WT = 31.00, HB = 78.63, HF = 11.23, D5 = 69.36; 1 sample. An immature (B0777) had a forearm length exceeding the range recorded by Lekagul and McNeely (1977). All other adult, subadult and immature were within range of external measurements given by Lekagul and McNeely (1977).
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