CLASSIFICATION OF PTEROPUS : FRUIT BAT
PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present )
Group :- CRANIATA ( Definite head. Cranium with brain present )
Sub-phylum :- VERTEBRATA ( vertebral column present)
Division :- GNATHOSTOMATA ( Jaws and paired appendages present )
Super class :- TETRAPODA ( Paired limbs, lungs, bony skeleton and cornified skin).
Class :-MAMMALIA ( Body covered with hairs. females have mammary glands ).
Sub-class :- THERIA ( Viviparous ).
Infra class :- EUTHERIA ( Placental mammals, vagina single ).
Order :- CHIROPTERA ( Flying mammals ).
Sub-order :- MEGACHIROPTERA (Hanging downwards with folding wings ).
Genus : Cynopterus
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Bats are found throughout the world in tropical and temperate. Found in South Eastern Asia, especially in India.
HABIT AND HABITAT
Adapted for arboreal and aerial mode of life. Live in groups and feed on fruits (fruigivorous) and often damage orchards. They sleep by day on tree branches. Bats can be found in many terrestrial habitats below the polar regions. Typical habitats include temperate and tropical forests, deserts, open fields, agricultural areas, and in suburban and urban environments. Many bats forage near freshwater streams, lakes and ponds, preying on insects as they emerge from the water
GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF PTEROPUS : FRUIT BAT
- Commonly called Fruit bat or Flying fox and in Hindi Chamgadar.
- Bats are unmistakable. No mammals other than bats have true wings and flight
- Body is dark-brown coloured and shoulders are golden yellow. Body divisible into head, neck, trunk and tail and patagium.
- It is capable of true flight. The forelimbs are modified into wings.
- Each wing formed by a fold of skin or patagium supported by elongated forelimb and 2nd to 5th fingers. Only 1st and 2nd fingers bear claws.
- Hind limbs and tail also included in patagium. Before patagium is prepatagium. Hind feet small
with sharp and curved claws. Tail small and stumpy. - Head small having small external ears, large eyes, snout and small teeth.
- During sleep, head hangs downwards with wings folded clock-like around body.
- This species is often regarded as vermin due to its destructive tendencies towards fruit farms, but the benefits of its pollination and seed propagation often outweigh the impacts of its fruit consumption.
Special features
- They have phylogenetic significance with
insectivores. - They are the only flying mammals.
- They are used for experimental purposes.
- Faeces of bats are used as fertilizer.
- Bats have highly developed Sonar or Echoapparatus,
a kind of radar. While flying they constantly send out ultrasonic sound waves consisting of periodic clicks, which strike on objects or wire and are reflected back to bat. Rate of click increases 50-150 seconds as the object is approached. Ultrasonic sounds are produced from the vocal cords.
Identification
The animal has patagium and above features, hence it is Pteropus or bat.
REFERENCES
- https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Indian_flying_fox
- https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Chiroptera/
- Book of Practical Zoology VERTEBRATE by S.S.LAL – Rastogi Publications.
- SOURCES OF IMAGES-https://www.google.com/u rl?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mpg.de%2F13271542%2Ffruit-bats-seed-dispersal&psig=AOvVaw1xHf90jDYs46y-KoOH1ZvR&ust=1602829466143000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwj52P6Y-7XsAhWRGXIKHYg4C-kQr4kDegUIARDAAQ
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2Fanimal%2Ffruit-bat&psig=AOvVaw1xHf90jDYs46y-KoOH1ZvR&ust=1602829466 143000& source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwj52P6Y -7XsAh WRGXIKHYg4C-kQr4kDegUIARCpAQ
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