This big-nosed bat makes a lot of noise around its African home. Male hammer-headed bats like to gather in huge groups and crank up the volume with honking calls they hope will attract a mate. This odd-looking bat's huge nose amplifies the sound like an echo chamber. After a night of "singing," these bats break away by the thousands to find a roosting spot.
Hammer Time: The male hammer-headed bat (right) gives this species its name. The creature's snout is long and wide, like the end of a hammer. Warts and folds of skin surround its lips, adding to the animal's unusual appearance.
Foxy Lady: The female hammerhead looks very different from the male. Not only is she smaller, but her head seems to belong to a separate species of animal. With smaller eyes and a slimmer snout, her head resembles that of a miniature fox.
Honk if You Love Me[]
These bats swarm at sunrise.
The male hammer-headed bat is one loud animal. In fact, this creature's voice box and vocal chords are so big that its heart and lungs are situated lower in its body to make room for the enlarged noisemakers. The bat's big schnoz plays a special role in pumping up the volume. Inflatable air sacs fill the sides of this creature's big snout, amplifying its calls and making them sound like loud buzzes and honks. Males usually gather to make their noise in groups when trying to attract a mate.
Mostly Fruity: The hammerhead is a fruit bat, snatching mangoes and guavas from the tree and flying off to suck out the sweet juices. This creature has been seen eating meat, though; it has been has been known to attack chickens.
Sun Screen: Like all bats, this creature is active at night, foraging from sunset to sunrise. When the sun begins to peek over the horizon, masses of hammer-headed bats seem to block out the sun as they fly to their roosts up to 100 feet high in the trees.
In the Mood[]
- One night during breeding season, a group of male hammer-headed bats hang together in a group, called a "lek." The bats being sounding off loud, honking calls to attract females. When a few appear, the males flap their wings to attract more attention.
- One of the females hovers near some of the males that are making the loudest noises. Making her selection among them, she perches next to a male. The two fly off together, though the male will return to the lek later to try to attract another mate.
Trivia[]
- The hammer-headed bat is featured on several Monster Mania cards:
- It is first featured in Odd Creature Out on Monster Mania 44.
- It is later featured in Know Your Noses on Monster Mania 86.