4 Sep 2022

Cynopterus brachyotis (lesser dog-faced bat) in Methodist College Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

by | posted in: lesser dog-faced bat, Mammals | 0
I recently came across a colony? of lesser dog-faced bats, a.k.a. lesser short-nosed fruit bat roosting in ceiling of a 5-storey stairwell in MCKL. The area is heavily trafficked in the day time and the bats seem to be comfortable with human presence underneath their roosting place. Their roost is a malfunctioned ceiling light with grating which allowed them serendipitously to grasp on to.
Fig 1 shows three of four (females?) on one end of the ceiling light.
Fig 2 shows a lone individual on the other end of the light fixture. I speculate that this is the male as C. brachyotis males do possess a harem. However, there seems a be an ear peeking out from the ventral side of the bat.
Fig 3 shows a different angle to Fig 2. On closer inspection, it seemed that there was a juvenile? baby? nestled close to the individual.
Fig 4.
Fig 5.
Fig 6.

Figs 4-6 shows what appear to be one ear and the lateral head view of the juvenile?

Fig 7 shows the females in rest position.
Fig 8 shows them stirring, probably in response to my presence.
It is interesting to note the big eyes and overall resemblance to puppies!
Interesting snippets: The life-span of this bat is 20-30 years. They are frugivorous and like mangosteens. They suck out the juices and soft pulp of small fruits like chikus (Manilkara zapota), guavas (Psidium guajava), bananas (Musa spp), but swallow small fruits like figs, feed on nectar and pollen too.  Medway notes that breeding is not seasonal in Peninsula Malaysia and the young are nursed with mother’s milk for about six to eight weeks. The mother bat carries the pup with her continuously during the nursing period. These bats pollinate flowers and carry out dispersal of seeds.
This bat (Megachiroptera bats) uses its large eyes to navigate at night, instead of echolocation (Microchiroptera bats). Sight and sound are used together to navigate.

Ng Di Lin

Lecturer, American Degree Transfer Program

Methodist College Kuala Lumpur

Off Jalan Tun Sambanthan 4, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.

 

References: 

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_short-nosed_fruit_bat
  2. https://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/bats/lesser_dog-faced_fruit-bat.htm
  3. https://wiki.nus.edu.sg/display/TAX/Cynopterus+brachyotis+-+Lesser+Dog-faced+Fruit+Bat
  4. https://besgroup.org/2014/06/27/bats-roosting-in-my-porch-1-introduction/
  5. https://besgroup.org/2018/03/05/common-fruit-bat-feeding-on-longan/
  6. https://besgroup.org/2021/09/15/attracting-bats-to-your-garden/
  7. https://besgroup.org/2022/07/08/barn-owl-controlling-fruit-bats-roosting-on-eaves-of-houses/
  8. https://besgroup.org/2017/01/25/oriental-pied-hornbill-caught-a-bat/

 

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