The hammer-head bat.
In Central and Western Africa we find a most unusual bat – a really big bat that looks terrifying but is quite harmless and all fruit bats are very important to the ecosystem – they are pollinators and seed dispersers. This bat has an enormous head – but its huge head has a purpose. This strange mammal was built to make a lot of noise! This bat's larynx takes up half of its body (for example, ours is found in our throat). Their head is one huge resonating chamber.
The male hammer-headed bat, also called the thick-lipped bat, makes a sound you cannot miss – it honks, more than once, like a loud car horn, and the purpose of this is to find a mate. When the female nears him, he makes a buzzing sound. So, we think only the male does this? Once the female and male have done their bit, the female leaves, but utters a 'goodbye' honk.
- The photo of this bat is with a fitted radio-collar for research purposes. This important bat is classified as 'least concern'.
- Photographer Unknown - Please message/email us for credit.
