Gray, 1821
Rousette Fruit bats
These are medium-sized fruit bats (RL4) of rather heavier build than Cynopterus (RL5). The wing membranes arise from the flanks and the dorsal pelage is not narrowed (RL6). There is a large claw on the first digit (RL13) and a smaller one on the second (RL14). A short tail is present (RL2). Males have the glandular hairs on the throat more developed than the females (RL7). The rostrum of the skull (BW1) is moderately elongated, distinctly longer than in Cynopterus (RL12). The basicranial axis is only slightly deflected, much less than in Pteropus (PG6) and the occipital region does not form a tubular projection. The tympanic bullae are without bony auditory meati. The premaxillae are in contact or co-ossified. The first upper premolar (PM2) is about equal in size with the first upper incisor (I2). m1 is shorter than m2 and m3 combined (Fig. 4). A primitive form of echolocation, the clicking of the tongue, is used to navigate in the dark.
Dental formula: i - 2 3 c 1 pm - 2 3 4 m 1 2 - = 34.
1 2 - 1 - 2 3 4 1 2 3
The genus includes 9 species with a geographical range that extends from sub-Saharan Africa, Arabia and Madagascar to the Indian Subcontinent (2 species) and south-east Asia (Koopman, 1993).
Species of Rousettus encountered in the Indian Subcontinent:
Rousettus aegyptiacus
Rousettus leschenaulti
Species identification
Jump to the Text Key of this genus Page 20: Genus Rousettus / (Eonycteris)