Muhammad Mahmood-ul-Hassan

The diet of Indian flying-foxes (Pteropus giganteus) in urban habitats of Pakistan

We studied the diet of the Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) in Pakistan from March 2008 to February 2009 and found that the bats fed on 20 species belonging to 11 plant families. Of these, four families (Anacardiaceae, Bignonaceae, Malvaceae, and Sapotaceae) were identified from remnants of flower petals in food boluses while the remaining families (Annonaceae, Arecaceae, Ebenaceae, Meliaceae, Moraceae, Myrtaceae, and Sapindaceae) were identified from the seeds in the boluses and from guano samples. Plants in the family Moraceae (50.7%) comprised most of the bats diet. Fruit of Ficus retusa (27.5%) and F. carica (23.0%) during winter, F. glomerata (30.9%) and F. religiosa (28.1%) during spring, Psidium guajava (19.6%), F. bengalensis (18.7%) and Diospyros peregrina (17.8%) during summer, and D. peregrina (71.9%) during autumn, were the most frequently identified items. The four seasonal diets varied significantly (&khgr;2 = 435, d.f. = 18, P < 0.01). Results confirm that the ecological services rendered by P. giganteus, such as pollination and seed dispersal, outweigh its losses, such as damage to the ripe fruit. Hence, the species should not be regarded as a pest; rather efforts should be made to ensure its conservation.

NESTING AND DIET OF THE BARN OWL (TYTO ALBA) IN PAKISTAN

ABSTRACT We investigated nesting of Barn Owls (Tyto alba) in central Punjab, Pakistan, from 1999–2002. We also documented diet of Barn Owls in southern Punjab and southeastern Baluchistan, Pakistan. Of 40 nests found in central Punjab, 33 were located in tree hollows, four in buildings, and three in nest boxes. Egg-laying was observed primarily between the second week of August and October (N  =  23), with a smaller number of nests started May–July (N  =  5). Fledging of the autumn nests was completed by early January, and all breeding efforts observed in May–July were unsuccessful. During the August–January breeding period, clutch size averaged 5.83 eggs (SE  =  0.47; range  =  1–12; N  =  23) and brood size 4.15 nestlings (SE  =  0.28; range  =  2–7; N  =  20). Shrews (59%), birds (19%), rats and mice (13%), and insects (7%) were the main prey in southern Punjab, whereas rats and mice (93%), shrews (4%), and amphibians and reptiles (3%) were the main prey in southeastern Baluchistan.

Nesting and Breeding Habits of the Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) in Punjab, Pakistan

Nidificacion Y Habitat Reproductivo De Athene brama En Punjab, Pakistan Estudiamos el habitat de nidificacion y de reproduccion de Athene brama en un ecosistema agricola de la provincia Punjab, Pakistan, desde diciembre de 2000 hasta noviembre de 2002. Veintiuno de 23 nidos se encontraron en huecos de arboles y los dos restantes en grietas de paredes. La puesta de huevos se registro desde la ultima semana de febrero hasta fines de abril. La eclosion ocurrio desde la ultima semana de marzo hasta mediados de mayo, y los polluelos salieron del nido desde fines de mayo hasta comienzos de junio. El tamano de la puesta vario entre 1 y 5 huevos, con un promedio de 3.8±0.2 (EE; N  =  34 intentos de nidifcacion). El tamano promedio de la nidada fue de 3.3±0.2 (EE; N  =  31 intentos de nidifcacion) y el 91% de los nidos fueron exitosos, produciendo por lo menos un volanton. [Traduccion del equipo editorial]

Locality Related Changes in the Diet of the Barn Owl (Tyto alba stertens) in Agroecosystems in Central Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract We studied spatial differences in Barn Owl (Tyto alba stertens) diets in agroecosystems of six districts of central Punjab, Pakistan. Analysis of pellets collected over 3 years revealed the house shrew (Suncus murinus) dominated all diets. This species constituted 75.0% of the diet in the Sheikhupura District, 68.4% in the Okara District, 67.2% in the Faisalabad District, 65.6% in the Toba Tek Singh District, 59.3% in the Jhang District, and 56.3% in the Hafizabad District. Rats and mice together formed 28% of the overall diet while birds (4.2%) were consumed more than bats (2.0%). The greatest diversity in Barn Owl diets was in the Jhang District.

An extralimital record of the Egyptian tomb bat Taphozous perforatus from Pakistan

No abstract available.

The Blasius’ horseshoe bat Rhinolophus blasii (Chiroptera, Rhinolophidae) still extends to Pakistan

Abstract Specimens of Rhinolophus blasii were captured in Manawa, district Lahore, 43 years after the first and single ascertained record in Pakistan. External, cranial, and bacular measurements of R. blasii are given for the first time in the country.

Recent record of the Asiatic lesser yellow house bat (Scotophilus kuhlii) from Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract Scotophilus kuhlii Leach, 1821 has only been reported from Chaklala and Chakri in Punjab, Pakistan. We captured five specimens from Lahore in a 2-year survey from June 2009 to May 2011. This is the first report of this species from Punjab province and the first from Lahore (31°29.223 N, 074°24.632 E) since the 1920s. The external body, cranial and bacular measurements of the captured specimens were compared with the available literature. The forearm length (n=5) was 49.40±3.03 mm, the greatest length of the skull (n=4) was 18.98±0.61 mm and C-M3 (n=4) was 6.27±0.49 mm. The echolocation call parameters of 25 pulses from five calls of the species were also analyzed. The mean frequency of maximum energy was 56.9±3.6 kHz, the mean start and end call frequencies were 103.5±12.3 kHz and 50.6±1.0 kHz, respectively.

Two new bat species (Chiroptera: Mammalia) for Pakistan: Miniopterus fuliginosus and Myotis formosus

Abstract Although over 50 bat species have been recorded in Pakistan, more are expected to inhabit the country. We recorded two new hitherto unrecorded bat species, i.e., Miniopterus fuliginosus and Myotis formosus in northwestern Pakistan. M. fuliginosus was captured from Barcharai Daim in Malakand district, while M. formosus was captured from Chinai Ghaz in Dir, Wach Khwar in Swat and Barcharai Diam in Malakand districts, respectively. This paper describes external, cranial, and bacular measurements of captured specimens of these two species.