image credit: davidhiggins.net
image credit: myths-made-real.blogspot.com
image credit: myths-made-real.blogspot.com
image credit: uglyoverload.blogspot.com
image credit: sciencephoto.comHabitat: equatorial Africa
Status: Least Concern
Status: Least Concern
You’re looking at the largest bat in Africa (and probably one of the weirdest ones): The Hammer-headed Fruit Bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus). It has a wingspan of 686 to 970 millimeters and males are much larger than females, averaging 400 grams while females average only 275 grams.
The enormous head and snout is found only on the males. They produce loud honking noises by creating a sort of resonating chamber out of their big schnozes. The females don’t even look like the males at all, resembling instead the typical “flying fox” fruit bat.
Despite the rather… unique… look of the Hammer-headed Fruit Bat, people aren’t afraid to eat this guy right up, since it’s popular as bush meat in Africa.
