Occurrence of Indian flying fox, Pteropus giganteus (Brünnich) (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) in district Charsadda Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Indian Flying fox, Pteropus giganteus (Brunnich) (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) plays an important role in seeds dispersion and pollination of many edible and medicinal plants. The present research was conducted to determine occurrence of P. giganteus in district Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan during July-May 2011-13. Diurnal roosts of P. giganteuswere studied in different localities including; Inzar Gul Khan Village (IGKV), Menawrai Baba Shrine Forest Plantation Village (MBSFPV) and Shakur Khan Village (SKV). Pteropus giganteus (n=15) were collected through the mist nets from MBSFP. The forearm length and wingspan of these bats were recorded as 174.10±1.73 and 884±18.17 mm, respectively. The highest abundance in MBSFPV (44%) and the lowest was recorded in IGKV (24%). They were mostly hanging upside-down over the trees. The Population of this bat species was greater in those areas where rich fruit orchards were present. A comprehensive survey will be needed to explore maximum roosts in the other adjacent areas for this species.