Taxonomic Status of the Indian Species and Subspecies of the Genus Cynopterus F. Cuvier

The two species of the genus Cynopterus Cuvier viz. Cynopterus sphinx and Cynopterus brachyotis are known to occur in Indian Territory, and are widely distributed in different parts of the country. Cynopterus sphinx has one subspecies, the nominate one. The subspecies of brachyotis occurring in India are angulatus, brachysoma, ceylonensis and scherzeri, Ellerman & Morrison Scott (1966), however. Hill and Thonglongya (1972) found angulatus more similar to sphinx and regarded it as a subspecies of sphinx on the basis of its external and cranial measurements being closer to sphinx.