Kenya Natural History Guide >>> Mammals >>> Epauletted Fruit Bat

Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat

Epomophorus wahlbergi

Epauletted Fruit Bat, Epomophorus wahlbergi, photo © by Michael Plagens

Roosing in a Phoenix palm near the Arboretum, Nairobi, Kenya. March 2013.

From Wikipedia: Wahlberg’s epauletted fruit bat is brown to tawny colored with white hair patches at the base of the ears. Males are typically darker in coloration than females. This species is named for erectable epaulettes of hair that form around large scent glands in males only. Males are also distinguished from females by air sacs on the neck that may increase the volume of courtship calls. Scent glands are located near the white ear patches in both sexes. Wings are broad as compared to other bat species. Adult wingspan is 510–600 mm.

Pteropodidae -- Old World Fruit Bat Family

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Copyright Michael J. Plagens, page created 20 July 2013