Short-nose Fruit Bat

Short-nose Fruit Bat (Cynopterus sphinx) is a common Indian bat with long snout and silky fur, found in tropical forests, grassland and mangrove forests. It is also seen in Sri Lanka, South China, Western Malaysia, Sumatra and neighboring small islands. The bat belongs to the family Pteropodidae of genus Cynopterus.

The wingspan is about 48 cm. Upperparts of the body are bright orange, while undersides are pale. It builds its house by chewing the fronds of the palms. This frugivorous mammal locates its preferred food by scent. Diets include ripe guava, banana, chikus, dates and liches.

Gir National Park, Gujarat, is one habitat for Short-nose Fruit Bat.