OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOOD AND FEEDING-BEHAVIOR OF CYNOPTERUS SPHINX VAHL (CHIROPTERA, PTEROPODIDAE) AT PUNE, INDIA

Cynopterus sphinx is an ubiquitous frugivorous bat widely distributed in India and South-east Asia. The species roosts individually or in groups of two to several individuals in the overhanging, cryptic and protective spaces on trees and under man-made structures such as roofs and ceilings. The species forages upon fruits, flowers and leaves of a number of wild and a few orchard species of trees in varying proportions, The seasonal variation in its diet is related to both food preference acid availability which are determined by annual cycles of flowering and fruiting in the study area. C. sphinx generally plucks the fruits and carries them away from the original tree to feeding perches where it chews the soft parts, swallows the juice and drops seeds and chewed fibres, thus dispersing seeds. Damage caused to orchard fruits by this species is incidental and often marginal, particularly where there are large numbers of wild food species available, In addition C. sphinx plays some role in the pollination of certain plant species.