ISSN : 2663-2187

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTERNAL MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF SCOTOPHILUS KUHLII (LEACH, 1821) IN GOALPARA DISTRICT OF ASSAM, INDIA.

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1Jugal kishore Talukdar and 2Akshay Kr. Haloi
» doi: 10.48047/AFJBS.6.5.2024.10748-10757

Abstract

In-depth research on Scotophilus kuhlii was conducted in the study region (Goalpara) between March and November of 2022. The number of active roosting bat populations (N = 39) in various habitat categories was computed. According to Bates and Harrison (1997), every bat was numbered, and a male and a female were taken from their individual roosts for additional taxonomic identification and comparison. External morphometric data revealed that male forearm length was 45.82 ± 0.9418 and female forearm length was 45.94 ± 0.9672. The male wingspan was 179.4 ± 6.5421 mm, whereas the female wingspan was 181.01 ± 6.3773 mm. The male and female HB measurements were 62.68 ± 1.1009 mm and 65.26 ± 0.6655 mm. Males and females differed somewhat in forearm (FA), head body length (HB), total wingspan (WSP), and other measurement acronyms (Table 2). After being measured and weighed, the caught bats were quickly released back into their natural habitat. Scotophilus kuhlii is a widely distributed species that roosts in holes, tree leaves, and abandoned house roofs, among other natural and man-made materials. This adapted species is found throughout much of Asia, extending from peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indochina to the Philippines from Pakistan and peninsular India. The distribution of the species within the study area varied depending on the type of roosting habitat. Roosting type has a direct effect on bat populations. The range and presence of this species in the surveyed areas indicate that there may be more nocturnal bats, which are critical for maintaining the food chain's balance.

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