Hammer-headed fruit bat

Data Sheet

Hammer-headed fruit bats eat fruits, including mangoes, bananas, and guava, but primarily figs. In some cases, they chew on the fruit to get its juice, then spit out the pulp rather than eating it. 

Fun Fact: In some regions, hammer-headed fruit bats use a lek mating system in which large groups of males gather in riverside trees, and each male claims a personal roost space from which to perform wing displays and make loud honking sounds. Females browse several displaying males before choosing a mate.  

Appearance: The hammer-headed fruit bat is the largest bat in Africa. It weighs between 218 – 450 g, and has a wingspan of 69 – 97 cm. Males are much bigger than females, and males have a very large snout and larynx which they use for honking in their mating displays. Hammer-headed fruit bats are gray-brown with white patches at the base of their ears.   

Habitat: Hammer-headed fruit bats inhabit lowland forests, swamps, mangroves, and palm forests, as well as agricultural areas. They roost high up in exposed tree branches under the tree canopy in small groups.  During the breeding season, large groups of lekking males gather in tree branches along streams or rivers, where females can visit to choose a mate. 

Conservation Concerns: The hammer-headed fruit bat is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. These bats are threatened by habitat loss and by hunting for use as food.