Salim Ali's fruit bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salim Ali's fruit bat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Latidens
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| Species: |
salimalii
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| Salim Ali's Fruit Bat range | |
Salim Ali's fruit bat (scientific name: Latidens salimalii) is a very rare type of megabat. These bats are special because they are the only species in their group, called Latidens.
This unique bat was first found in 1948 by a naturalist named Angus Hutton. He discovered it in the High Wavy Mountains in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, South India. At first, people thought it was a different kind of bat. But in 1972, a scientist named Kitti Thonglongya realized it was a brand new species! He named it after a famous Indian bird expert, Salim Ali.
What Does It Look Like?
Salim Ali's fruit bat is a medium-sized bat. It does not have an outside tail. Its ears are oval-shaped with rounded tips.
The fur on its head is dark brownish-black. Its wings are light brown, and the fur on its belly is light grey-brown. The skin of its wings, called the Patagium, has no hair. Inside its mouth, it has fifteen ridges on the roof, called palatal ridges.
This bat has a long, narrow snout. The roof of its mouth is also very long, especially the part behind its teeth. It has only one pair of front teeth, which are small and peg-like. Its other teeth are broad. The first small teeth, called premolars, are tiny.
An adult bat is about 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) long. Its back feet are about 0.8 to 1.5 centimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long. Its forearm, which is part of its wing, is about 6.6 centimeters (2.6 inches) long.
What Do They Eat?
Scientists have seen these bats eating fresh fruits. They especially like the fruits of the Elaeocarpus oblongus tree, also known as the Rudraksh or bead tree. They also enjoy figs from trees like Ficus glomerata (cluster fig), Ficus macrocarpa (Indian laurel fig), and Ficus beddomei (a type of strangler fig called Thavital).
Where Does It Live?
The first time this bat was described, it was found at a height of 750 meters (about 2,460 feet). This was in the High Wavy Mountains of the Annamalai Western Ghats, in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu, South India.
In 2002, the Indian government decided to give special protection to two rare bat species. These were the Wroughton's free-tailed bat (Otomops wroughtonii) and Salim Ali's fruit bat (Latidens salimalii). They were added to Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. This means these two bats have the highest level of protection in India. Other bat species in India are not protected as strictly.
Why Is It Endangered?
Salim Ali's fruit bat was first listed as critically endangered in 1996. This means it was in extreme danger of disappearing forever. Since 2004, it has been considered an endangered species. This still means it is at high risk of becoming extinct.
This bat is endangered because there are very few of them left. Scientists believe there are fewer than 1,000 individual bats remaining. Sadly, their numbers are still going down. Experts think the population could shrink by another 20% by the year 2032.
There are a few reasons why these bats are disappearing:
- Hunting: Some people hunt these bats for bushmeat.
- Loss of Homes: The caves where they live are being lost or damaged.
- Deforestation: Forests are being cut down, which means the bats lose their homes and food sources.
