Disk-footed Bat | 19 Apr 2021
Why in News
India’s first bamboo-dwelling bat with sticky disks, has been found near Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya.
Key Points
- About:
- The bat species Eudiscopus denticulus, aptly called disk-footed bat, is very distinctive in appearance with prominent disk-like pads in the thumb and bright orange colouration.
- It has been found roosting in internodal spaces of bamboo stems.
- This species is known to thrive in a few localities in Southern China, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar.
- In Meghalaya, it was recorded in the Lailad area near the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, about 1,000 km west of its nearest known habitat in Myanmar.
- IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
- The bat species Eudiscopus denticulus, aptly called disk-footed bat, is very distinctive in appearance with prominent disk-like pads in the thumb and bright orange colouration.
- Number of Bat Species in India:
- The disk-footed bat has raised Meghalaya’s bat count to 66, the most for any State in India.
- It has also helped add a genus and species to the bat fauna of India. India has a total of 130 bat species.
Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary
- Situated in the Ri-Bhoi district near Lailad village and spread over an area of 29 sq. kms, Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the famous attractions of Meghalaya.
- The Sanctuary falls in the Eastern Himalayan Global biodiversity hotspot.
- The sanctuary supports different species of fauna such as Royal Bengal Tiger, Clouded Leopard, Indian Bison, and Himalayan Black Bear etc.
- Among the birds, the rare species which can be spotted here are Manipur Bush Quail, Rufous Necked Hornbill and Brown Hornbill.
- Other Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya:
- Siju Wildlife Sanctuary
- Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary
- Baghmara Pitcher Plant Sanctuary
- Nokrek National Park
