Head to head
Hammer-Headed Bat vs Wrinkle-Faced Bat
The hammer-headed bat and wrinkle-faced bat are consistently cited among the strangest-looking bats in the world, each shaped by very different evolutionary pressures acting on the face.
| Hammer-Headed Bat | Wrinkle-Faced Bat | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Hypsignathus monstrosus | Centurio senex |
| Signature facial feature | Grossly enlarged head and larynx in males | Deeply wrinkled skin, male facial skin mask |
| Purpose of the feature | Producing loud mating calls at leks | Not fully understood, possibly display-related |
| Range | Central and West Africa | Mexico to northern South America |
| Sexual dimorphism | Extreme, males much larger | Present, less extreme |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Unknown | Stable |
| Habitat | Rainforest, wetlands | Rainforest |
Hammer-Headed Bat vs Wrinkle-Faced Bat: common questions
Which bat has the stranger face, the hammer-headed bat or the wrinkle-faced bat?
Both are strong contenders: the hammer-headed bat's males carry a dramatically enlarged head and larynx used for loud mating calls, while the wrinkle-faced bat has deeply folded skin and a self-applied facial mask in males, making the two species frequent contenders for the title of strangest-looking bat in the world.
Why do male hammer-headed bats have such large heads?
A male of this species has a dramatically enlarged head, snout, and larynx compared with females, housing the vocal apparatus used to produce loud honking calls at communal display grounds called leks, where males compete to attract passing females with the loudest, most distinctive calls.
Do researchers know why wrinkle-faced bats mask their faces?
Not conclusively; researchers have proposed several possible functions for this male behaviour, including scent gland concealment or social display, but no single explanation has been confirmed, leaving the wrinkle-faced bat's facial mask one of the more genuinely puzzling behaviours among bats.