Not an accident

Via National Geographic, this is a new species of leaf-nosed bat discovered in Vietnam.

We've seen other leaf-nosed bats and many other bats with strange facial protuberances, but this has got to be the saddest-looking. It seems to have been involved in some kind of terrible accident, or perhaps a dramatic incident where a crazed rejected lover threw acid in its face.

In reality, all of thse strange bat face shapes assist in echolocation, helping focus and bounce sound waves off their prey. On the one had that's pretty cool, but on the other, it makes be glad that we humans have developed our advanced technology as separate machines and not part of our actual bodies.

Because it can't get by on looks, this bat apparently relies on having a nice personality. "While captured, some similar body-sized bats, i.e. [the] great leaf-nosed bat, reacts very angrily," said the scientist who discovered it. "But Griffin's leaf-nosed bat seems quite gentle."

-Wombat (No Relation)

This is a test

How much do you love ugly animals? Do you go "Awwww!" when you see a picture of a baby vampire bat?

From the Philadelphia Zoo thanks to Zooborns.

Bloodthirstily,
-Wombat (No Relation)

Tubenose, take 2

Here's another species of tube-nosed bat to apologize for the technical difficulties with the last one. I think commenting on that post is working now.

Eleryi's tube-nosed bat from the Daily Mail.

-Wombat (No Relation)

Nameless uglynose

This tube-nosed fruit bat was observed on an expedition to Papua New Guinea that discovered a number of new species. This guy has been seen before but hasn't been officially scientifically described, which means it doesn't have a name yet. Its genus is Nyctimene, so I say we call it Nyctimene ugdorable.

Thanks to Discover magazine's blog 80 Beats, where you can see the expedition's other newer but mostly less ugly species (although don't miss that spiny leg katydid).


- Wombat (No Relation)

Featured Creature

There's a new blog in town that you need to check out. It's called The Featured Creature, and it's something you'll want to visit daily. Carly's idea for the blog is simple but brilliant -- feature a new creature every day. You'll find plenty of ugly, like the bat photos below, but fair warning: you'll also find some really pretty animals like peacock butterflies and pheasants.

The photos you see below belong to free-tail bats, aka mastiff bats. Free-tails (so named for their unusually long, rodent-like tails) are a large family bats, consisting of robust, large, incredibly nimble fliers who are also some of the fastest out there. Some live in small groups in the hollows of trees, while others live in cave complexes in colonies with millions of individuals. I can't imagine the enormous piles of guano that must accumulate in those caves, nor the cockroaches that must feast upon them. Neither do I want to consider my own death in said pile...but I just did.

Photo credit (1 - saguaro-juniper.com, 2 - hsu.edu)

Horseshoe Leafnose Microchiropterans

Photo source: Animal Diversity Web
Behold a few specimens from the glorious microbat genus of Rhinolophus (leafnose, in Latin). These bats are but a sample of the 69 species that comprise the genus of horseshoe bats. To your left you'll see the largest of the group, the greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum).

The next two photos are of the lesser horseshoe bat. The last is the real prize: the rufous horsehoe bat.

I've never liked calling various species 'lesser' or 'greater'. I know the designation usually pertains to size, but still, it bugs me. Perhaps my dislike stems from my deep fear that one day a millennium from now, archeologists will uncover my bones, run a DNA test, and classify me as a 'lesser human.' In my case, the classification wouldn't pertain to my size, but to my quality.

Thanks for the Rhinolophus bats, Jelo. The night just got a bit squeakier.

Vampire Feeding

Katie took these amazing photos in the night enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. You get one guess as to what these vampires bats are drinking from the bowls.

There are three species of vampire bat, all of them native to the Americas. The average female can ingest 50% of her body weight in blood (1 ounce) in a 20-minute feeding. So, how do they talk off after gaining so much weight? They being urinating within 2-3 minutes of feeding (that's how quickly their kidneys work to process the blood). Then when it's time to actually take off, they've developed a crouch-and-fling method of launching themselves into the air.

Again, why do I post on my lunch break?

Photos courtesy Katie Kraushar

A Stroll Through the Jungle

Imagine yourself on a leisurely stroll through the jungle of Nouragues, French Guiana, when you look up and see this sight. Well, I guess if you're the type to take a stroll at night through the jungles of French Guiana that this is exactly the sort of sight you're looking for. Little microbats, getting ready for an evening full of squeaks, fluttering, and bugs.

Photo courtesy: Sean McCann

Megabats

According to Mrs. Rutkowski, these three bats (Wahlberg's epauleted bat, the Honduran white, and the gray-headed flying fox) are good examples of megabats (UPDATE: it turns out that the Honduran white is NOT a megabat. But I'll leave it here to the comments make sense).

What's a megabat? The name itself can be a bit misleading, as the smallest of this group is only about 2.4 inches long. In general, they're fruit eaters and nectar lickers. They don't use echolocation (except for an Egyptian species). This is all in contrast to microbats, who tend to use echolocation and eat insects.

Of course, no where in the line up is the draculabat. I think we may have a certain Transylvanian editing Wikipedia for his own purposes.

Bat Face

Ever wondered what a bat looks like under a microscope? Me neither. Here's one anyway.

This photo won the Visions of Science and Technology Photographic Awards in 2007. It's actually groundbreaking, and has given bat-o-philes (chiropterophiles?) a good glimpse of this living bat's face.

Are we sure they aren't flying rodents? This looks an awful like a guinea pig. An evil guinea pig at least.

Photo source: Steve Gschmeissner via Metro.co.uk

Bundled Baby Bats

This isn't my first post on a row of bundled baby bats, and it won't be my last (provided I can find more).

This could have been one of the most adorable photos taken. But then you see that knobby, membranous wrist jutting out from the top of the wrap. And then you look to the bottom of the photo and see that groping talon. What had been an endearing scene is suddenly made sinister.

I almost wish that fruit bats really did feed on humans, because over-sized, canine-headed, and demon-winged flying humanivores would make for a good monster. But it's hard to be afraid of frugivores (though I still manage it).

Skimming the Surface

Ida sent in this great article featuring some amazing shots taken of bats skimming the surface of a pond for a quick drink in Surrey, UK. These photos got me thinking. Many of us humans have fears (often well justified) of both real and imagined horrors that live beneath the water's surface.

I wonder if aquatic beasts live in similar fear of the monsters that live above the water's surface. If so, then you'd best not show them these pictures.

And if you were wondering how these photos were taken, go the article, then look at the last photo below. It's easy! All you need is fancy equipment and a lot of expertise and patience.

Thanks for the article, Ida.

Photo source: Kim Taylor via DailyMail.co.uk

More from Mount Bosavi

Mount Bosavi on the New Guinea mainland is turning up all sorts of new critters. There are some bizarre ones and some beautiful ones. And some ugly ones. Guess which ones I'm bringing you.

For a broader sample, click on this link to the Guardian. For a sample of the ugly, allow me to do the leg work for you...

The common tube-nosed bat. Complete with, um, a tube nose.



















A jungle spider camouflaged to look like lichen.




















Here's another shot of the giant woolly rat. I think it's kinda cute, but it's a rat, and my wife cringed when I showed it to her, so it qualifies for UgO. Besides, how could I possibly pass up posting on a real life ROUS. And, they aren't afraid of humans (haven't come to know us well enough).



















This is where all these creatures are being found. So much life in an ironically labeled 'extinct' volcano.



















Thanks for the link, Sherry.

The Benefits of a Short, Broad Skull

The wrinkle-faced bat, known to be frugivorous despite being closely related to the vampire bat, has long been known for its abominable face. But it's the shape of the skull that has puzzled researchers.

Photo source: BBC News


















It's recently been determined that the short, broad shape of the skull gives the wrinkle-faced bat a 20% stronger bite than bats of a similar size (Centurio senex weighs in at a mere 17 grams). Why such a powerful bite on a fruit-eating bat? All the better to eat their way through thicker fruit skins during lean times, my dear.

So, if you encounter one in the wild, feel free to scream and flail and run away, but know that the only danger this bat poses (unless you're a fruit) comes in the form of what is left in the seat of your pants after said encounter.

Thanks for the article, Luke.

Ode to the Horseshoe Bat

So take a good look at my face
My nasal flap looks out of place
It's my sella meant to facilitate
Hearing far away objects

The above is a little known additional verse to Smokey Robinson's beloved Tracks of My Tears. It was his ode to Bourret’s horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus paradoxolophus. More specifically, to the flap of skin pointed to in the image below. I can see what it was removed from the LP for mass market appeal, but many chiropteraphiles were outraged by the ommission.

Researchers believe that such a flap allows the bats to better ping objects in the distance with their echo location, thereby getting a better sense of what's out there. After doing some computer modeling, the researchers determined that if the flaps got too long, there would be a diminishing of returns. As it would happen, the three species that sport such a large flap have the length dialed in on the sweet spot.

Thanks for the bat, Judy.

Photo source: Rolf Müller via ScienceNews.com

Baby Bats in a Row

I know, I know! This photo has no place here! I get it already! But I have no other outlet, no other place to post a photo of a row of swaddled baby fruit bats sucking on pacifiers. Couple the adorable image with the heart-warming tale of humans stepping in to care for these orphaned bats, and you've just imbibed enough goodness to last you through the week.

Photo source: Snuzzy.com



















But, lest we should forget, let's keep in mind what they will become...

























Thanks for the bat photo, Laura.

Creepy Crawly ID Needed

Any idea what this might be? Some possibilities include: caterpillar imitating a bat, a bat imitating a caterpillar, or something else. Other sites don't seem to be able to ID it properly. But I know you can.

Any ideas on how to avoid one would be nice too. I don't feel like waking up one night to find one undulating its way up my chest.

Thanks for the video, Carl.

UPDATE: KB and anon3 have identified this as most likely being a caterpillar of the Phobetron (isn't that a ride at the state fair? genus, possibly a monkey slug caterpillar. Camouflage is just amazing.

Tools and Adaptation

Like the superhero inspired by this creature, this bat has a variety of tools at its disposal. It's got the ears, jaws, brain pan, and nasal array for transmitting and receiving echolocation signals, the wings for flapping about, claws, etc. It's also got another tool of which most bats can't boast: suction cups on their thumbs and hind feet. How handy (literally).

The suction cups (adhesive organs) with which the sucker-footed bat (Myzopoda aurita) is endowed allows it to perch on and scale up a wide variety of otherwise treacherous vertical surfaces. Though most of the endemic wildlife of Madagascar is under threat (with only 8% of its original forest left intact), this particular bat is of least concern, since it has adapted itself well to urban and suburban living.

Tools and adaptation at work, people. Batman would be so proud.

Thanks, Jelo.

Dangling Apple Eater

Photo by David Fletcher
The fruit bat's face when combined with the wholesome image of nibbling on an apple borders on charming. But then you look at that wing, it's claw, and the claw holding the fruit, and it all changes.

I spent way too much time staring at this photo trying to sort it out. The bat's hands are its wings, so I was trying to figure out how in the world it has a free hand to grasp the apple. Then I thought, hey, it doesn't have any free hands, since it doesn't have hands at all! And this is where I get really brilliant (been sleep deprived lately)...then I thought, hey, that's its foot! An apple-clutching foot. The other foot must be bearing the weight of the bat on its own. Again, seeing it dangling by one foot while it ate an apple could be cute. But it's a bat.

Winged Garbage Man

Fruit-eating bats differ in many ways from their insectivorous chiropteran cousins. Ironically, they've got a lot more of the whole vampire-Dracula thing going on, what with their size and veiny wings and all. Yet, the only flesh they bite is fruit-based.

Flying foxes, as I believe this one to be, are primarily diurnal creatures since, unlike insects, most fruits don't take any measures not to be eaten. Fruit doesn't need to be hunted, so daylight is as good a time to forage for them as night time. What a clever bat, to choose a food that actually wants to be eaten. In fact, they don't eat just any fruit, but fruit that is over ripe for the most part. They are the frugivorous equivalent of the garbage man. A winged, freaky garbage man.