Wildlifeof Nepal
Leschenault’s Rousette
Bats
Photo: (c) Navaneeth Sini George, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Rousettus leschenaultii
Basic stats
Diet
Fruit, nectar and flowers
Habitat
Tropical forest to towns; roosts in caves, abandoned buildings and tunnels
Range
Iran east to Java, Bali and Sumatra, including Nepal
Size
Head and body 9.5–12cm; forearm 7.5–8.5cm; tail 1–1.8cm
Leschenault's rousette is a fruit bat, brown to grey-brown with lighter underparts, long pale hairs under the chin, an elongated muzzle and large dark eyes. Head and body measure 9.5 to 12cm, the forearm is about 7.5 to 8.5cm and the tail very short, 1 to 1.8cm. It was first described by Desmarest in 1820 (Wikipedia, general species account).
It lives in habitats from tropical forest to towns, roosting in caves, abandoned buildings and tunnels, often in colonies of up to several thousand. It eats fruit, nectar and flowers. The species ranges from Iran east to Java, Bali and Sumatra, and Nepal is among the countries where it is recorded. Nationally Least Concern (Nepal National Red List 2011).
Quick answers
- What does the Leschenault’s Rousette eat?
- Fruit, nectar and flowers
- What habitat does the Leschenault’s Rousette live in?
- Tropical forest to towns; roosts in caves, abandoned buildings and tunnels
- Where is the Leschenault’s Rousette found?
- Iran east to Java, Bali and Sumatra, including Nepal
- How big is the Leschenault’s Rousette?
- Head and body 9.5–12cm; forearm 7.5–8.5cm; tail 1–1.8cm