Cynopterus

Cynopterus brachyotis

Cynopterus is a genus of short-faced fruit bats, which are found in Southeast Asia.

Description

Species of the genus Cynopterus are very different in size, with a weight range of 30-100 g and a head -body length of 70-127 mm. The coat is dense and usually olive - brown, with the coat color from species to species. Bats of this genus have conspicuous, almost tubular nostrils and the upper lip is divided by a vertical furrow.

Way of life

Cynopterus - types can be found both in dense forests and in more open areas up to an altitude of 1850 m above sea level Cynopterus is the only genus of the Old World, which is known to build their hanging places itself. The palm leaves are chewed that a cavity is formed, where they find shelter. Alternatively, caves, mines and houses are used as sleeping places. Some species fly in one night in search of fruits up to 113 km. The food spectrum includes palm fruits, figs, bananas, guavas, mangoes and flowers of catalpa plants such as Oroxylum indicum. The animals seem mainly to feed on the juice of the fruit, less from the pulp. Often the fruits are picked and eaten at another place, which makes the genus an important seed dispersers.

Types and distribution

• C. brachyotis: South India and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Vietnam along the coastal regions to Malaysia, and Brunei. Thought to be extinct in Palawan.
• C. horsfieldii: Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, locally in Thailand.
• C. luzoniensis: In the Philippines and Sulawesi (Indonesia).
• C. minutus: On Borneo, Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi.
• C. Nusatenggara: On the small Sunda Islands.
• Indian short-faced fruit bat ( Cynopterus sphinx ): Pakistan to Indonesia.
• C. titthaecheilus: On Java and Sumatra, and East Timor.

Distribution area of C. horsfieldii

Distribution area of C. luzoniensis

Distribution area of C. minutus

Distribution area of C. Nusatenggara

Distribution area of the Indian short-faced flying fox ( Cynopterus sphinx )

Distribution area of C. titthaecheilus

Taxonomic notes

There is great uncertainty to what extent different C. sphinx of C. brachyotis. The C. formerly regarded as a distinct species scherzeri is allocated depending on the source C. sphinx or C. brachyotis. Show newest molecular methods that C. sphinx of C. brachyotis distinct species are, and that this could also be the case for C. scherzeri. The same discussion consists of several subspecies of C. sphinx, which could be separate species or alternatively already but C. brachyotis belong. C. titthaecheilus was temporarily regarded as a subspecies of C. sphinx, but since 1983 again the species status.

Hazards caused by the human

Although all species of the genus Cynopterus by the IUCN are classified as safely, many populations are in decline. This is due both to the destruction of the habitat, as well as through direct hunting of the animals. In northern Thailand, the bats are sold for medicinal purposes in markets, and also in parts of China, the animals are regarded as restorative. Through their food preference, they also apply in many parts as pests because they also feed on fruit in orchards.