Indian roundleaf bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indian roundleaf bat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hipposideros
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| Species: |
lankadiva
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| Indian roundleaf bat range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Hipposideros schistaceus |
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The Indian roundleaf bat (Hipposideros lankadiva) is a type of bat. It's also called the large Ceylon leaf-nosed bat or Kelaart's leaf‐nosed bat. These bats are mostly found in the Indian subcontinent, which includes countries like India and Sri Lanka. You can also find a few of them in Southeast Asia.
They like to live in warm, dry forests and caves. There are three slightly different kinds, or subspecies, of this bat. These subspecies live in India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. The Indian subspecies is a bit smaller than the ones in Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
The Indian roundleaf bat is a large bat with a yellowish-brown color. A special feature is its unique nose-leaf, which helps tell it apart from other similar bats. Scientists have checked on this bat, and it is currently not considered to be in danger. However, in some places, its homes are disturbed, or people collect them.
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About the Indian Roundleaf Bat
The Indian roundleaf bat is a big leaf-nosed bat. Its fur can be light cream to brown. The fur is usually darker on its head and shoulders, but lighter on its belly.
These bats have forearms that are about 8.3 centimeters (3.3 inches) long on average. Their weight is usually around 59 grams (2 ounces).
Special Features
This bat has four small, extra flaps on its nose-leaf. The fourth flap is quite small. The middle part of its nose-leaf is wide and looks a bit swollen.
The back part of the nose-leaf is brown and has three small bumps on its top edge. The bat's ears are large and pointy. The back edges of their ears are slightly curved inward behind the tip. Bats found in Myanmar are much bigger than those in India. They are similar in size to the bats found in Sri Lanka.
Bat Life Cycle
This type of bat does not hibernate (go into a deep sleep for winter).
Reproduction
Indian roundleaf bats mate once every year. After mating, the mother bat carries her baby for about 260 days. Then, she gives birth to one baby bat.
What They Eat
The Indian roundleaf bat is an insectivore, meaning it eats insects. They mostly eat beetles, especially scarab beetles. They also enjoy other large, hard-bodied, and slow-flying insects. This includes insects like nuptial ants and various bugs.
In Sri Lanka, scientists found that a very high percentage (79–100%) of their diet is beetles. This suggests that these bats are very picky about the food they choose.
How They Find Food (Echolocation)
Indian roundleaf bats use echolocation to find their way around and hunt. This means they send out sound waves and listen for the echoes. Their calls have a very low sound frequency, usually around 78.33 kHz.
Their calls have a short constant-frequency (CF) part and a longer changing-frequency (FM) part. This type of call helps them hunt insects in tight spaces. It also makes sense because these bats often live in deep caves with narrow openings.
Where They Live
The Indian roundleaf bat is found in many places across the Indian subcontinent. You can also find some records of them in Myanmar in Southeast Asia.
In India, they live in states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and West Bengal. In Sri Lanka, they are found in several provinces, including Central and Southern. They have also been seen in Bangladesh.
These bats live in many different types of places. Even though they are spread out, they are only known from a few specific spots in India and Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, they live in dry areas, lower hills, and wet zone hills. They can be found up to 1,000 meters (about 3,280 feet) above sea level.
Indian roundleaf bats like to live in groups. These groups can be as small as 50 bats or as large as several thousand! They make their homes in caves, old tunnels, old temples, old forts, and even cellars under old buildings.
Protecting the Bat
The Indian roundleaf bat is currently listed as a species of least concern by the IUCN. This is because they are found in many places, can live in different habitats, and have a large population. Their numbers are not dropping quickly.
However, there are still some threats to these bats. One big problem is when their roosting places (where they sleep) are disturbed. These bats seem to be very sensitive to people bothering their homes. Also, sometimes people collect these bats for traditional medicine or other uses.
