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Bat Fauna (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of Southern Odisha Along the Eastern Ghats, India

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Abstract

Bats have not received adequate attention in biodiversity research and conservation activities in India despite their ecological values. In the present study, we carried out an inventory of bat fauna in southern Odisha region during September 2014 to August 2016 and recorded a total 16 species of bats in seven families, of which the insectivorous bats were represented by maximum 12 species over frugivores and carnivores. During the study 76 roosting sites were recorded from exposed branches, foliage and cavities of trees, caves, crevices in large rocks and abandoned buildings and caves were significantly preferred by maximum 11 species. Gupteswar cave tourism site in Koraput district was found to be the most diverse and important bat roosting and breeding site in southern Odisha region. Cave tourism, hunting for ethno-zoological practices and cutting down of roosting trees were observed as major threats to bats. As the inventory was primarily based on roost survey, more systematic survey using mist nets and acoustic monitoring can further strengthen the bat fauna database of southern Odisha.

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Acknowledgements

The first author would like to thank the University Grants Commission, New Delhi for providing Non-NET Ph.D. Fellowship for the study. Local villagers of southern Odisha are highly acknowledged for their support in identifying bat roosting sites during the study. Thanks to Tuhinanshu Kar for developing the study area map.

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  1. Department of Biodiversity and Conservation of Natural Resources, Central University of Orissa, Koraput, Odisha, India

    Subrat Debata & Sharat Kumar Palita

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  1. Subrat Debata
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  2. Sharat Kumar Palita
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Correspondence to Sharat Kumar Palita.

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Debata, S., Palita, S.K. Bat Fauna (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of Southern Odisha Along the Eastern Ghats, India. Proc Zool Soc 72, 420–429 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12595-018-0272-0

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