About Cynopterus sphinx (Vahl, 1797)
Cynopterus sphinx, commonly known as the greater short-nosed fruit bat, has a relatively long snout. Its upper body fur ranges from brown to grey-brown, and its underparts are paler in color. The species' fur is very fine and silky, and the edges of its ears and wing bones are marked with white. Its lower cheek teeth are rounded and lack accessory cusps. Adult individuals have a wingspan of approximately 48 centimeters (19 inches). Juveniles are lighter in color than adult bats. The species has an average forearm length of 70.2 millimeters (2.76 inches), with individual lengths ranging from 64 to 79 millimeters (2.5 to 3.1 inches). This bat's range extends from Pakistan to Vietnam. It is common in tropical forests and areas where fruit crops are cultivated, and can also be found in grasslands and mangrove forests. It typically roosts high in palm trees, chewing palm fronds to build fairly simple tent nests. When palms are not available, it will also construct tents by closely interweaving the leaves and twigs of creeping vines that grow on buildings.
