We asked our #BatTeam which was their favourite bat on the planet? (the hardest question to ask a bat biologist). Jason Headley picked the Wrinkle-faced Bat (Centurio senex) - which is really a fan favourite. This little south American frugivore is just neat. #BatAppreciationDay - ThreadSky

albertabats.bsky.social • 9 days ago

We asked our #BatTeam which was their favourite bat on the planet? (the hardest question to ask a bat biologist). Jason Headley picked the Wrinkle-faced Bat (Centurio senex) - which is really a fan favourite. This little south American frugivore is just neat. #BatAppreciationDay

Comments

fernmonkey.bsky.social•8 days ago

The face reminds me of how the human face develops very early on.

sproutcan.bsky.social•8 days ago

@freakindelight.bsky.social 🦇 🦇🦇

albertabats.bsky.social•9 days ago

🦇🌎🧪🦊

drsabinemetzger.bsky.social•8 days ago

Nature's masterpiece (like the Visor bat). The "Senex" - a face like a walnut! And those eyes. Cold. Indifferent. Those toad-like eyes you find in humans, too. Bat physiognomies are fascinating. What an immense diversity!

pbeasleyhall.bsky.social•9 days ago

skin mask?! 👀

albertabats.bsky.social•9 days ago

Yep. Crazy, I know! They have this flap of skin that sits under their chin that they can pull up over their face. It even has a couple of spots that are almost transparent for their eyes so they can see through it. Possibly it stinks a little? And may be something for attracting "the ladies"!!

albertabats.bsky.social•9 days ago

Nobody really knows for sure why they have this. But the males are equipped with it, not the females. Centurio also forms "leks" where they show off to attract mates.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0241063&fbclid=IwAR17swkF6PT2ZQyxIdcMLbtJVsLIj2TvRtWXsI10bjSUVddqg_mDZBpUeMQ

albertabats.bsky.social•9 days ago

Centurio also has one of the strongest bite forces for any of the fruit-eaters in his family (Phyllostomidae). They are amazing little bats!

http://faculty.washington.edu/ssantana/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Dumont-et-al_2009_Centurio-_J-Zool.pdf

pbeasleyhall.bsky.social•9 days ago

that’s so cool! (And suave 😏)