It is not a dog, but one of the cutest flying bats in the world: it has a (hammer) head that resembles a puppy

it might almost look like a photomontage, but the hammerhead bat really exists and lives in areas of equatorial Africa

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

At first glance, his photo may seem almost a photomontage, but the hammerhead bat really exists and lives in the areas of equatorial Africa.

At first glance, his photo might look like a photomontage due to its large size and elongated snout, but the hammer-headed bat really exists and lives in areas of equatorial Africa. Its scientific name - Hypsignathus monstrosus - could be scary. In reality, it only refers to its unusual and, indeed, monstrous appearance. This "frightening" creature was also an inspiration for the creation of some African stamps.

Posted by Wildlife Conservation Society on Tuesday, October 27, 2020

I am simply amazed by the hammer-headed bats (Hypsignathus monstrosus). - comments Sarah Olson, associate director of wildlife health at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). - The close-up of any feature - eye, hair, nose, ear, wing or paw - is stunning. The whiskers have characteristics unique to each individual, and the nasal and lip folds of adult males provide a sculptural finish to the overall appearance of the moose head. As we handle them to collect samples, they exhibit precise behaviors ranging from docile but it can happen that they try to bite, for this we use thick leather gloves. Like the largest African fruit-eating bats (males weigh around a kilo), they are flying seed dispersal machines, critical to the health of the equatorial forest.

The unique characteristics of the hammer-headed bat

As anticipated, the hammer-headed bat is larger than the other species living on the African continent. The skull is elongated and massive, laterally compressed and elevated, while the skull is small, round and with the back deflected. Instead, the fur is short, fluffy, and quite woolly.

This week for #Baturday, we’re talking about an incredibly unique bat species: the hammer-headed bat (Hypsignathus…

Posted by Neighbourhood Bat Watch on Saturday, June 5, 2021

Only the male specimens have enormous and particularly elongated heads. But why? This unusual feature is due to the presence of large resonance chambers which serve to amplify the sounds produced to attract females. Hammer-headed bats have a wingspan that can reach up to 75 cm and a weight that can reach around 400 grams. This mammal species mainly feeds on fruit. Although figs are their most favorite food of all, they also eat bananas and mangoes.

It is not a dog, but one of the cutest flying bats in the world: it has a (hammer) head that resembles a puppy

@WCS

The role of the species in the spread of the Ebola virus

Although they are not aggressive animals, it seems that the hammerhead bat is one of the African bats that can contract the dreaded Ebola virus asymptomatically. However, scientists still need to determine whether it behaves as an accidental host or a true reservoir for the virus.

Human health threats aside, this deadly virus is linked to a massive decline in western lowland gorilla populations in Congo and Gabon. - explains Dr. Sarah Olson - Our job as scientists is to find a way to prevent Ebola outbreaks and help conserve these bats for future generations, one bat at a time.