GIANT INDIAN FRUIT BAT (PTEROPUS GIGANTEUS BRUNNICH) ROOST IN KARNATAKA, SOUTH INDIA: A CASE FOR PRESERVATION AS A HERITAGE SITE

摘要

Many of the lesser-known taxa such as bats have received little protection and face considerable threats and higher rates of endangerment. India's bat fauna is rich and diverse. More than 11% of the world's bat species occur in India, including 13 megachiroptera and 99 microchiroptera (Bates and Harrison, 1997). However, the Chiropteran diversity in the Indian subcontinent is presently represented by 121 species, belonging to 37 genera and 8 families, with 112 species belonging to 33 genera and 8 families within Indian limits (Srinivasalu and Srinivasalu, 2001).