Mammals
Epauletted Fruit Bat
Epomophorus · also called epaulet bat
Puffing out tufts of white shoulder fur and inflating a loud calling throat sac, a male epauletted fruit bat performs his nightly display from a favoured perch, hoping to be the one a passing female chooses among the chorus of competing males nearby.
Overview
The epauletted fruit bat, genus Epomophorus, is native to forest and savanna habitat across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Its distinctive white shoulder tufts, loud throat-sac calling display, and valuable role as a seed disperser and pollinator make it one of the more behaviourally elaborate and ecologically important fruit bats in Africa.
A nightly audition for the right mate
Each evening, male epauletted fruit bats gather at favoured calling perches and compete loudly for female attention, turning an ordinary night of feeding into a competitive, almost theatrical display built entirely around sound and a flash of white fur.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and common across suitable forest and savanna habitat throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Epauletted Fruit Bat: common questions
What are the epaulettes on an epauletted fruit bat?
They are tufts of white fur at the shoulders that males can puff up and display, a feature prominent enough to give the species its common name.
Why do male epauletted fruit bats inflate their throats?
They use specialised inflatable throat sacs to produce loud calls as part of a nightly display intended to attract females, often performed by groups of males from nearby perches.
Are epauletted fruit bats helpful to their ecosystem?
Yes, they act as important seed dispersers and pollinators, spreading seeds and pollinating flowers as they feed on fruit and nectar across their range.
Where is the epauletted fruit bat found?
It is native to forest and savanna habitat across much of sub-Saharan Africa.