Rhinopoma hardwickii, Gray, 1831, Gray, 1831

Elangovan, Vadamalai, 2022, Distribution and roosting ecology of the lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickii Gray, 1831 (Chiroptera: Rhinopomatidae), Records of the Zoological Survey of India 122 (1), pp. 17-23 : 18

Results

The lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickii had a long free tail (66.0 ± 6.37 mm, n = 51) which was longer than its head and body length (64.2 ± 4.1 mm, n = 51). The average length of forearm (59.3 ± 3.0 mm, n = 51) was shorter than tail length. The morphological features of R. hardwickii obtained in the present and previous studies given in Table 1 . The dermal ridge of the muzzle was well developed and appeared like the snout of pig ( Figure 1 ). The ear pinnae were connected with a membrane at forehead and a circular shallow pit found at forehead. The lower abdomen was hairless during the winter season and looked like a fatty tissue ( Figure 2 ).

The distribution of R. hardwickii was observed mainly in dry and rocky areas of Uttar Pradesh.

The distribution of R. hardwickii was observed in 18 districts of Uttar Pradesh, viz. Agra, Allahabad, Banda, Chitrakoot, Etah, Faizabad, Fatehpur, Firozabad, Jaunpur, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Lucknow, Mahowa, Mirzapur, Prayagraj, Raebareli, Sultanpur and Unnao ( Figure 3 ). The colonies of R. hardwickii were observed in historical monuments, abandoned buildings, caves, mosques and temples. Nine of 21 colonies found in historical monuments and rests of them found in abandoned buildings, cave, temple and mosque. The roosts of R. hardwickii were observed in dark rooms, mostly in basements of monuments and abandoned buildings. The roosts located at Edalpur village in Firozabad and at Kakori in Lucknow were closest to water bodies. The average roost height was 15 ± 7.4 feet (n = 15) from the ground and surface area of roost was 184.6 ± 60.4 square feet (n = 15). The roost temperature (29.8 ± 2.0 °C) and relative humidity (63.6 ± 4.2 %) did not fluctuate among the roosts. The average intensity of light at roost site was 0.23 ± 0.044 lux. The colony size of R. hardwickii ranged from 120 – 930 individuals, while the number of groups in colonies varied from 1 – 5. The colony size was fluctuated over the study period and they shifted their roosts seasonally. They roost on walls and attics solitarily during summer, while they aggregate as clusters during winter. The bats occupied the wall surface and moved often quadrupedally to adjust themselves. They moved to crevices and holes when they were disturbed. The general behaviours such as tail wagging, scanning, grooming, roost shifting, and wing stretching were observed at roosts. Rhinopoma hardwickii shared the roost with R. microphyllum , Taphozous nudiventris and Hipposideros fulvus . Annual reproductive cycle was observed in R. hardwickii . The individuals undergone mating between February and March, and the gravid females gave birth between June and July. The pups began to fly independently and became volant at the end of August. The pups held the false teat of mothers while the latter hung upside down during nursing period.

Figures

Figure 1. The lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickii.

Figure 2. The fatty abdominal tissue of Rhinopoma hardwickii.

Figure 3. Map shows the distribution of lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickii. The locations of roost sites were abbreviated and shown in the map: 1) AGC – Agra, 2) SFA – Sangam Fort (Allahabad), 3) NTB – Neelkanth Temple Kalinjar (Banda), 4) BAC – Banda, 5) PKC – Purani kotwali (Chitrakoot), 6) AFE – Awagdh Fort (Etah), 7) FBC – Faizabad, 8) FPC – Fatehpur, 9) EPF – Edalpur (Firozabad), 10) JFJ– Jaunpur Fort (Jaunpur), 11) BMJ – Bukhara, Mauranipur (Jhansi), 12) JHC – Jhansi, 13) LPC – Lalitpur, 14) TFL – Talbahte Fort (Lalitpur), 15) KKL – Kakori (Lucknow), 16) TTM– Tirthankar Temple (Mahowa), 17) MFM – Mirzapur Fort (Mirzapur), 18) KBP – Khusaroo bagh, 19) RBC – Raebareli, 20) SPC – Sultanpur, 21) UNC – Unnao.