Leschenault's rousette

Leschenault's rousette (Rousettus leschenaultii) is a species of fruit bat. The scientific name of the species was first published by Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest in 1820.

Leschenault's rousette
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Pteropodidae
Genus:	Rousettus
Species:	R. leschenaultii
Binomial name
Rousettus leschenaultii Desmarest, 1820
Subspecies
R. l. leschenaultii (Desmarest, 1820) R. l. shortridgei Thomas & Wroughton, 1909 R. l. seminudus (Kelaart, 1850)
Leschenault's rousette range

Description

Leschenault's rousette is brown to grey-brown in colour with lighter underparts. It has long pale hairs under the chin, an elongated muzzle and large dark eyes. The head and body length measures 9.5–12 cm (3.7–4.7 in), the tail length measures 1–1.8 cm (0.39–0.71 in) and the forearm length is about 7.5–8.5 cm (3.0–3.3 in).^[2]

Habits and habitat

This bat species is found in a variety of habitats ranging from tropical forests to urban environments. It roosts in caves, old abandoned buildings and tunnels, and other such structures. A colony of this animal can contain up to several thousand individuals. It feeds on fruits, nectar and flowers.^[2] Leschenault's rousette is found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia from Iran to Bali, Java and Sumatra.