v10i2.268

Submitted date: 16 August 2021
Accepted date: 9 September 2021
Published date: 22 November 2021
Pp. 138–139

An unusual roosting habit of a painted bat (Kerivoula picta) from Sri Lanka

R.K. de Mel*, A.P. Sumanapala, H.D. Jayasinghe, S.S. Rajapakshe & R.P. Nanayakkara
*E-mail: ruvinda_demel@hotmail.com

The painted bat, Kerivoula picta (Pallas, 1767) is considered one of the most aesthetically appealing bats in Sri Lanka with bright orange fur and black wings. However, very little information is available with regard to the ecology of this species in both local and global contexts. Of its roosting habits, Phillips (1980) reports that in Sri Lanka the bat is usually found roosting among banana leaves while it has been observed utilising tall grass species and even an abandoned nest of a Baya Weaver (Plocius philippinus) for this purpose. Here we report an observation of the species using a man-made artefact for roosting during the day.

Section Editor: Burton Lim