İrfan ALBAYRAK, Nursel AŞAN, Tarkan YORULMAZ

The Natural History of the Egyptian Fruit Bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, in Turkey (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

Aspects of the ecology, karyology, and taxonomic status of the Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, in the Mediterranean region of Turkey were investigated based on 41 specimens obtained between 1977 and 2003. Distribution, external and cranial morphometrics, pelage coloration, baculum morphology, karyology, colony size, roosting and feeding ecology, and conservation and management issues were recorded. The fruit bat in Turkey is represented by the nominate subspecies, R. a. aegyptiacus. Sexual dimorphism was recorded in pelage coloration and morphometric data. The diploid number of chromosomes (2n) is 36. Records of feeding behavior were obtained from both field and laboratory studies. Seasonal changes in diet were recorded in both wild and cultivated fruits, including Persian lilac (Melia azadirachta), rubber tree (Ficus elastica), plum (Prunus sp.), loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), apple (Malus sp.), fig (Ficus carica), pomegranate (Punica granatum), grape (Vitis viniferia), persimmon (Diosyros kaki), date (Phoenix dactylifera), mulberry (Morus sp.), cherry (Prunus sp.), peach (Prunus persica), apricot (Prunus sp.), and citrus (Citrus sp.). It was determined that the fruit bats in Turkey reproduce in late August.

The Natural History of the Egyptian Fruit Bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, in Turkey (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

Keywords:

Bioecology, karyotype taxonomy, Rousettus aegyptiacus, Turkey,

PDF

___

Albayrak, İ. 1990. Doğu Anadolu Yarasaları (Mammalia: Chiroptera) ve Yayılışları. Doğa- Tr. J. Zoology 14: 214-228.
Albayrak, İ. 1993. Batı Anadolu yarasaları ve yayılışları (Mammalia: Chiroptera). Doğa- Tr. J. Zoology 17: 237-257.
Andersen, K. 1912. Catalogue of the Chiroptera in the Collections of the British Museum, I. Megachiroptera. 2nd. edition, British Museum (Natural History), London.
Anderson, J. .1917. On the determination of age in bats. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 25: 249-259.
Baag0e, HJ. 1977. Age determination in bats (Chiroptera). Vid. Med. Dansk. Nat. For. 140: 53-92.
Benda, P. and Horâcek, I. 1998. Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the Eastern Mediterranean. Part I. Review of distribution and taxonomy of bats in Turkey. Açta. Soc. Zool. Bohem. 62: 255- 313.
Bergmans, W. 1994. Taxonomy and biogeography of African Fruit Bats (Mammalia, Megachiroptera) 4. The Genus Rousettus Gray, 1821. Beaufortia. 44:79-126.
Corbet, G.B. 1978. The Mammals of the Palaearctic Region: a Taxonomic Review. British Museum (Nat. Hist), London.
Çağlar, M. 1965. Türkiye'nin yarasaları 1. İ.Ü. Fen Fakültesi Mecmuası, Seri B. 30: 125-134.
Çağlar, M. 1968. Türkiye'nin yarasaları I. Bats of Turkey 1. Türk Biol. Derg. 18: 5-18.
Dulic, B. and Mutere, F.A. 1973. Les chromosomes de tris especes des megachiropteres (Mammalia: Chiroptera) d'Afrique orientale. Caryologia. 26: 389-396.
Eisentraut, M. 1959. Der Rassenkreis Rousettus aegyptiacus E. Geoffr. BonZool. Beitr. 10:218-235.
Ellerman, J.R. and Morrison-Scott, T.C.S. 1951. Checklist of Palearctic and Indian Mammals 1758-1946. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist), London.
Haiduk, M.W., Baker, R.J., Robbins L.W. and Schlitter D.A. 1981. Chromosomal evolution in African megachiroptera: G- and Cband assessment of the magnitude of change in similar standard karyotypes. Cytogenet. Cell. Genet. 29: 221-232.
Harrison, D.L. 1964. The Mammals of Arabia. Insectivora, Chiroptera, Primates. Ernest Bern Limited, London.
Harrison, D.L. and Bates, PJJ. 1991. The Mammals of Arabia. Second edition, Harrison Zoological Museum. Lakeside Printing, London.
Izhaki, 1., Korine, C. and Arad, Z. 1995. The effect of bat {Rousettus aegyptiacus) dispersal on seed germination in eastern Mediterranean habitats. Oecologia. 101: 335-342.
Kahmann, H. and Çağlar, M. 1960. Beitrâge zur Sâugetierkunde der Türkei. 1 -Fledermâuse aus der Landschaft Hatay (Eine vorlâ'ufige Mitteilung). İstanbul Üniversitesi, Fen Fakültesi Mecmuası, Seri B. 25:1-21..Kinzelbach, R.. 1986. New records of the Egyptian bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus in Turkey. Zool. Middle East. 1: 20-21.
Korine, C, Arad, Z. and Arielli, A. 1996. Nitrogen and energy balance of the Fruit Bat Rousettus aegyptiacus on natural fruit diets. Physiological Zoology. 69: 618-634.
Korine, C, Izhaki, I. and Arad, Z. 1998. Comparison of fruit syndromes between the Egyptian fruit-bat Rousettus aegyptiacus and birds in East Mediterranean habitats. Acta Oecologica. 19: 147-153.
Korine, C, Izhaki, I. and Arad, Z. 1999. Is the Egyptian fruit-bat Rousettus aegyptiacus a pest in Israel? An analysis of the bat's diet and implications for its conservation. Biological Conservation. 88:301-306.
Koswig, C. 1955. Zoogeography of the Near East. Systemat. Zool. 4: 49-73.
Kumerloeve, H. 1975. Die Sâugetiere (Mammalia) der Türkei, Die Sâugetiere (Mammalia) Syriens und des Libanon. Veröff. Zool. Staatssammlung. 18: 69-225.
Lehmann, E. Von 1966. Taxonomische Bemerkungen zur Sâugerausbeute der Kumerloeveschen Orientreisen 1953-1965. Zool. Beitr. (N.F.), 12: 259-265.
Makin, D. and Mendelssohn, H. 1987. The Fruit-bat Issue in Israel. Bat News. 11: 4-5.
Menzies, J.I. 1973. A study of leaf-nosed bats {Hipposideros cafer and Rhinolophus landeri) in a cave in Northern Nigeria. J. Mamm. 54: 930-946.
Miller, G.S. 1912. Catalogue of the Mammals of Western Europe (Europe exclusive of Russia) in the Collection of the Museum. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. London.
Osborn, D.J. 1963. New distributional records of bats from Turkey. Mammalia.27: 210-217.
Parker, R.E. 1979. Introductory Statistics for Biology. The Institute of Biology's Studies in Biology. London.
Patton, J.L. 1967. Chromosome studies of certain Pocket mice. Genus Perognathus (Rodentia: Heteromyidae). J. Mamm. 48: 27-37.
Qumsiyeh, M.B. 1980. New records of Bats from Jordan. Sâugetierkundliche Mitteilungen. 1:36-39.
Qumsiyeh, M.B., Disi, A.M. and Amr, Z.S. 1992. Systematics and Distribution of the bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of Jordan. Dirasat. 19 B: 101-118.
Ridgway, R.A. 1886. Nomenclature of Colours for Naturalists and Compendium of Useful Knowledge for Ornithologists. Boston.
Salleh, M.A., Hang, E.S., Abdulrahman, M. and Abdullah, M.T. 1999. Isolation of genomic DNA from fruit bats of Kelabit Highlands for DNA archiving and determination of genetic variation. Asean Review of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (Arbec). September-October, 1-6.
Spitzenberger, F. 1979. Die Sâugetierfauna Zyperns. Teil II: Chiroptera, Lagomorpha, Carnivora und Artiodactyla. Ann. Naturhistor. Mus. 82: 439-465.
Şadoğlu, P. 1953. Meyve Yiyen Yarasaların Beslenmesi. Biologi. 3: 12- 17.
Topal, G. 1958. Morphological studies on the os penis of bats in the Carpathian Basin, Ann. Hist. Nat. Mus. 50: 331-342.
Tuttle, M.D. 1984. Fruit Bats Exonerated. Bats News. 1:1-2.
Young, R.A. 1975. Aging criteria, pelage colour polymorphism and moulting in Rhinolophus megaphyllus (Chiroptera) from Southeastern Queensland. Australia. Mammalia. 39: 75-113.