MANSAR LAKE (Cave west of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An allegedly anonymous natural cave (no name mentioned) of unknown character and dimensions has become known as the 29th day roost of the fulvous leaf-nosed bat in Kashmir (including the Pakistan side of the province). ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous, indigenous or locally known cave name has been identified (if it exists) for thiis cave named after a certain Mansard Lake [sic!] (SAIKIA, U et al. 2006: 2197) or, more likely, the Mansard Lake (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1655), because the cave lies 2 km west of the Mansar Lake (32°42'N: 75°08'N: circa 670 m, AMS sheet NI43-15 Pathankot, U 502 series, 1959 edition). SITUATION: At an unspecified distance (possibly along a winding route or, perhaps, in a direct line) of about 2 km west of Mansard Lake (sic!) or Mansar Lake (note 1) and in a setting where the cave was located on a slope surrounded by Pinus longifolia (SAIKIA, U et al. 2006: 2197). POSITION 2006: Unknown. The obviously erroneous coordinates N32°48': E75°23': ca. 450 m (SAIKA, U et al. 2006: 2197) for the entrance to this cave do, unfortunately, indicate a far off spot which does not at all lie only about 2 km west of Mansard Lake (SAIKIA, U et al. 2006: 2197) but almost 30 km in a direct line ENE from Mansar Lake. A spot about 2 km west of Mansar Lake (32°42'N: 75°08'E: circa 670 m) would lie near (±2.5 km) 32°42'N: 75°06'30”E (representational approximation). POSITION 2011: Mansar Lake, Jammu & Kashmir 32°48'N & 75°23'E (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1655). CAVE LIFE: SAIKIA, U et al. (2006: 2197) report to have collected in a so-called Mansard Cave (sic!) one adult male specimen (preserved in alcohol) of fulvous leaf-nosed bat Hipposideros fulvus Gray 1838 (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae), also assigned to H. f. pallidus on account of their paler dorsal pelage (Roberts 1977, Corbett & Hill 1992; Bates & Harrison 1997), and observed not only an unspecified number of a few individuals of the same species … roosting in the cave but also noticed the presnce of discarded porcupine (Hystix sp.) quills in the area (note 2).A, U et al. 2006: 2197) for the entrance to this cave do, unfortunately, indicate a far off spot which does not at all lie only about 2 km west of Mansard Lake (SAIKIA, U et al. 2006: 2197) but almost 30 km in a direct line ENE from Mansar Lake. A spot about 2 km west of Mansar Lake (32°42'N: 75°08'E: circa 670 m) would lie near (±2.5 km) 32°42'N: 75°06'30”E (representational approximation). POSITION 2011: Mansar Lake, Jammu & Kashmir 32°48'N & 75°23'E (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1655). CAVE LIFE: SAIKIA, U et al. (2006: 2197) report to have collected in a so-called Mansard Cave (sic!) one adult male specimen (preserved in alcohol) of fulvous leaf-nosed bat Hipposideros fulvus Gray 1838 (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae), also assigned to H. f. pallidus on account of their paler dorsal pelage (Roberts 1977, Corbett & Hill 1992; Bates & Harrison 1997), and observed not only an unspecified number of a few individuals of the same species … roosting in the cave but also noticed the presnce of discarded porcupine (Hystix sp.) quills in the area (note 2).