Habitat suitability model of endangered and the probable consequences of global warming.

Salim Ali's fruit bat, is a monotypic endangered fruit bat endemic to Western Ghats (WG) with an ambiguous distribution. The distribution range, habitat suitability, and biology of this species are still uncertain. Endemic species inhabiting the high elevation of  WG like are threatened due to climatic change and seeks urgent management interventions. Hence, we developed a habitat suitability model for using MaxEnt in the current climate condition and projected their distribution for three Representation Concentration Pathway (RCP 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5) climate scenarios of the 2070 time frame. The results show that 9531 kmof habitat in WG is suitable for at present, while all the future scenarios estimates propose complete loss of highly suitable habitat. The significant factors influencing the distribution of are the precipitation of the driest month, tree density, rain in the coldest quarter, canopy height, and altitude. The study pioneers in predicting the suitable habitat and emphasis the need to develop strategies for the long-term conservation of endangered in WG under global warming scenarios.