Hammer-headed Fruit Bat
Habitat and Habitat Utilization
photo courtsey of: Brent Huffman
Geographical Range and Habitat
The hammer-headed fruit bat is the largest bat in Africa and is found mainly in central Africa (Boland, 2003). It has been found in forested regions from Senegal to southern areas of Sudan and Uganda, through western areas of Tanzania to northern Angola (Barclay, 1990). These bats live in a variety of habitats such as riverine forests, mangroves, swamps, and palm trees (Boland, 2003).
Food
Figs make up most of their diet, but they will also consume the juice and pulp of mangos, bananas, and guavas (Boland, 2003). In general, figs do not contain a sufficient amount of proteins or lipids, however they do contain a large amount of indigestible fiber. Since their diet contain relatively low protein amounts they have been found to supplement their diets by ingesting leaves from plants (see Form and Function) (Dumont, 2003). Interestingly, these frugivorous bats have been reported displaying carnivorous behavior by attacking chickens, with the motive of drinking blood and scavenging meat (Deusen, 1968).
This page was created by Lamar Hull for an undergraduate Animal Behavior 323 course at 
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Please contact Dr. Case via email if you have and questions or comments: vecase@davidson.edu
