Dwellers of the Night: The Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat

Lurking in the shadows, darting between trees – once the sun sets, their lives begin. Today we’re looking at the greater short-nosed fruit bat!

The Cynopterus sphinx, also known as the Indian fruit bat is a species of megabat native to South and Southeast Asia. These bats prefer tropical forests and places where fruits are easily available, making India, also known as the “fruit basket of the world”, a wonderful home for them. 

They have a relatively long snout compared to other species of fruit bats. With silky grey-brown fur, rounded teeth suited for feeding on fruits, and wide white-tipped wings, they have no problem blending in with dark surroundings. They prefer lower altitudes and nest high up in palm trees near agricultural areas, peripheries of forests, and parks in urban areas. They make roosts in the form of hanging tents by chewing on dry leaves, exhibiting a natural skill for weaving together twigs and vines as well to make their homes. Males often guard the tent at night, while females and young bats occupy it during the day.

You may see them dart across the sky around sunset. They emerge in the evening, becoming active at night as they forage for fruit using their sense of smell. They prefer fruits such as bananas and guavas, although they have also been spotted feeding on nectar and leaves. As urban-dwellers, they use every chance they get to find food and have thereby developed an adaptable nature. One study conducted around 2013 at a temple in Tamil Nadu captured the opportunistic nature of these bats. Bats in the area fed on fruit pieces left behind by monkeys, emerging around midnight when there was little human activity. Interestingly, they were also seen most often around the time of the year with the fewest festivals and celebrations, indicating how they have adapted to urban life and found food while keeping their distance from humans. 

These bats prefer to stay in groups. Groups of around 9 females or males live apart from each other until the breeding season. Female bats often form stable groups and show a sense of relatedness with each other. They can breed up to twice a year and survive up to 10 years in captivity. These bats do not use echolocation. However, a study found that they do emit vocalisation when threatened to alert other bats in the area. Both the emission of these distress calls as well as their reception showed that they may react similarly in stressful situations. 

A common misconception is that they are capable of attacking humans, but this is usually false. Fruit bats are harmless, and although they may fly close to human settlements, they are usually just on the lookout for fruits or insects. 

They are, however, seen as menaces in agricultural areas as they often feed on commercial fruit crops which has an economic impact. One study conducted in Andhra Pradesh to estimate the effects and cost of this found variations in their feeding habits depending on the quality and quantity of food available. These bats prefer to feed on fruits in groups, as was corroborated by this study which found them in groups of up to 8 visiting vineyards at night to feed on the fruits available. They mostly fed on the periphery instead of delving into the center suggesting again that they prefer staying away from areas with dense human activity or population and only feed in agricultural areas when food is unavailable elsewhere. 

They are commonly found and have been listed under the Least Concern category of the IUCN’s Red List. This is a positive sign, as they are important in the dispersal of seeds as well as in the pollination of night-blooming flowers. Still, in order to ensure that their population remains stable and unaffected, it is important to deflect any negative effects that human activity may have on their habitats such as urbanisation and the subsequent loss of forests. Several species of bats have also been hunted for medicinal purposes, so despite their population and occurrence, they still warrant protection and preservation.

They are fascinating creatures that roam the night sky and make excellent subjects for study since not much is known about their behaviour due to their retiring nature. Just like all animals that live in and around our surroundings, establishing a healthy relationship with them can be a method of trial and error so as to peacefully coexist with them without disrupting their natural lifestyles. Scientists advise against leaving out fruits for bats as they may become dependent on humans for survival, and also as naturally occurring fruits are much healthier for them than the processed food that we consume. Harvesting fruits on time or covering up crops have also been suggested to lower their intervention in agricultural areas. 

In the end, they are vital agents in our ecosystem that are simply trying to get in their lives by alongside us. You may catch a glimpse of our winged nighttime neighbours the next time the sun goes down as they make their way to their next meal!