First distributional record of short-nosed fruit bat <em>Cynopterus sphinx</em> (Vahl, 1797) (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) from Dhubri district of Assam, Northeast India

Abstract

A hiding roost of Short-nosed Fruit Bat Cynopterus sphinx was located on 13.03.2019 during routine survey period in the garden forest area of B. N. College campus of Dhubri district of Assam which has been recognised as the first distributional record for this fruit bat species from the westernmost part of Assam of Northeast India. Previous study revealed two different species of the Genus- Cynopterus from the northeastern parts of India which were namely Cynopterus sphinx sphinx and Cynopterus brachyotis. Addition of the present new distributional location has confirmed the distribution of Cynopterus sphinx in Assam from the westernmost “Dhubri district” of lower Assam to the extreme end part of the upper Assam “the Tinsuka district” of Brahmaputra Valley along with the extension of the species to the “Cachar district” of Barak Valley of Assam, Northeast India.