Thesis Name- Ecology and breeding behavior of the painted bat, Kerivoula picta, in Kerala, India.

An elusive bat, found in India, Ceylon to Southern China, South-Eastern Asia, and Malaysia to Borneo, the lesser Sundas, and the Moluccas. Body mass is about 4-6 grams. The study was a bit difficult since it is found in restricted areas with highly nomadic habits where the study of ethology and ecology was hard to carry out. There were no reports on its distribution, roosting pattern, and reproductive patterns; Only morphological descriptions were available.

The study area included river banks, low-lying foothills, ridges, etc, under moderate climatic conditions [32degrees to 37], normal rainfall [3000mm], and humidity [70% especially during monsoon]. During the study bat roosting areas were visited, surveyed, and monitored. Various parameters like habitat, population size, roosting pattern, roosting position, roost fidelity, morphometry, emergence, and returning behavior, and roost characteristics such as length and diameter of the tent and height of the tent from ground level were studied. For experimental studies, bats were captured using hoop nets and introduced into the captive chamber. The study on the Male and female breeding Biology of Kerivoula picta was carried out from 2004 to 2010. I was awarded a doctorate in 2010. .