When speaking of bats they are often referred to as a species of ” flying mice ” and although it is not a completely wrong comparison (despite being different animals), not all of these creatures resemble rodents. This is the case of the strange hammer-headed bat that has the face of a cub.
This is the strange hammer-headed bat that has the face of a cub
The hammer-headed bat that we want to present to you is nothing more than a type of bat that is precisely known by the name “hammerhead” although its scientific name is Hypsignathus monstrosus.
A bat that is in fact a very curious exception among bats. A flying mammal that has a very elongated face and some don’t even consider it real but it really does exist. It is a bat belonging to the pteropod family and can be found in the tropical forests of central Africa.
With an incredible 97cm wingspan, the creature is the largest bat in Africa. Only males, who can reach an average body length of 25 centimeters, are endowed with this particular aspect; females, in fact, resemble other fruit bats. During the day, the creature takes refuge individually or in small groups (up to 25 individuals) within large trees 20-30 meters above the ground. The differences between males and females don’t end there.
Regarding feeding, the females follow an established path with predictable and lower quality food sources, while the male can fly up to 10 km in search of good feeding areas. Their reproductive season, on the other hand, lasts from one to three months and during these periods 20-135 males compete with each other through rituals consisting mainly of calls and flapping to attract females.
Why does the hammer bat have such a face?
Contrary to what you might think when looking at their appearance, hammer bats are absolutely harmless animals. They live as we say in equatorial Africa and those foods that they seek so eagerly are still fruits. Its curious face is due to the presence of large resonance chambers with which they amplify the sounds produced to attract females , hence only males have that appearance. When it flies through vegetation, its maneuvers are precise and it can also remain suspended in the air.
