Mammals
Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat
Cynopterus sphinx · also called short-nosed fruit bat, Indian short-nosed fruit bat
Folded into a shelter it has bitten from a palm leaf, a greater short-nosed fruit bat dozes through the Indian afternoon before heading out at dusk to raid a guava tree.
Overview
The greater short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx, is a Least Concern fruit bat of India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. Its leaf tents, fruit-and-seed diet, and ease around people make it one of the most familiar fruit bats of South Asia.
A small flying fox of gardens
Unlike the giant flying foxes, this small fruit bat lives among orchards and gardens, scattering seeds as it feeds.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common across a large range.
Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat: common questions
How does the greater short-nosed fruit bat make a tent?
It sometimes bites palm and other leaves so that they fold into a shelter in which it roosts.
What does the greater short-nosed fruit bat eat?
It feeds on ripe fruit such as figs and guavas, along with nectar and flowers.
Does the greater short-nosed fruit bat live near people?
Yes, it is common in gardens, orchards, and towns across its range.
Where is the greater short-nosed fruit bat found?
It lives in India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia, from forest to farmland.