[12], The hammer-headed bat is a lowland species, always occurring below 1,800m (5,900ft) above sea level. New Jersey's most legendary and most mysterious resident is investigated. This creature seems to be by all means associated with the Agenda group. It is the only member of the genus Hypsignathus, which is part of the tribe Epomophorini along with four other genera. The hammer-headed bat, with wingspans up to 38 inches (97 cm), is Africas largest bat. Chris can be reached at [emailprotected] Visit The Search For The Jersey Devil at Facebook), You must be logged in to post a comment | | Common Names: Hammer-headed bat, hammerhead bat, big-lipped bat Basic Animal Group: Mammal Size: Wingspan 27.0-38.2 inches; Body 7.7-11.2 inches Weight: 7.7-15.9 ounces Lifespan: 30 years Diet: Herbivore Habitat: Equatorial Africa Population: Unknown Conservation Status: Least Concern Description Females usually give birth to one offspring. Hammer-headed bats are frugivores, which means their diet consists entirely of fruit. [12] The wings attach to the hindlimbs at the second toe. This bat however is only 9-10 inches tall and while that is large for a bat it's kind of hard to think if you saw it flying in the sky that you'd believe it was human sized. The wing loading is considered exceptionally high, meaning that it has a large body weight relative to the wing area. However it is interesting that I would have seen the creature in mental images, presumably before I had known about the Jersey Devil, especially considering how surprised I was to come across this picture of the Jersey Devil, and that my Big Bat and the Jersey Devil would look identical to each other. [10] Thus, females have 36 chromosomes (34 autosomes and two sex chromosomes), and males have 35 chromosomes (34 autosomes but only one sex chromosome). Much like theChupacabra, the Mothman, and even the Hydra, the Jersey Devil's true origins may be found in the animal kingdom. Newspaper accounts of the Jersey devil started circulating in the early years of the 20 th century, although it may have been an established folktale before then. In Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is consumed as bushmeat. She is also the author of The Uprising Series and is the CEO of G-Force Marketing & Publicity, which has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter and has obtained film, television, radio, and print placements for blue-chip clients all over the world. Sometimes they take in too much air and have to release it. The fur is long and smooth, though somewhat woolly in texture on the mantle. It's easy! Im on my second guardian angel.. my first one quit and is now in therapy. ? Due to their frugivorous diet Hammer-headed bats are important seeds dispersers in their ecosystem and they also serve as a food source for some birds of prey. |. With no solid proof to support the story, we can probably assume that it has been at least somewhat embellished over time. Probably juuuust a coincidence. Hammerhead's Habitat and Appearance . Three shark species reproduce in New Jersey's back bays and coastal marshes. [11] Other differences between the sexes relate to their social system, in which males produce loud, honking vocalizations. There's virtually no way possible that a frugivorous bat from Africa survived in Jersey for long, and certainly not the period of time over which there were sightings. Researchers Just Found A 500-Year-Old Mummified 'Goatelope' Inside A Melting Glacier, 44 Mind-Blowing Pictures Of Ordinary Creatures Under An Electron Microscope, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. [10] Internally, it is known to be affected by the liver parasite Hepatocystis carpenteri. George Steinmetz, Juvenille Sandbar Sharks: Title VI Notice of Nondiscrimination It forages at night, sleeping during the day in tree roosts. [15][16], Hammer-headed bats are frugivores. Thankfully, these extraordinary bats are not considered to be a threatened species, though increasing deforestation and climate change are beginning to impact their natural habitats. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. "Hypsignathus Monstrosus: Hammerhead Bat." The person holding this fruit bat is extending the animal out toward the camera, and since the bat is closer to the lens than the human, the forced perspective makes the animal appear larger than normal. The conservation status of the hammer-headed bat was last evaluated in 2016. Scientists have been tracking shark movements using technology for years. The hammer-headed bat ( Hypsignathus monstrosus ), also known as hammer-headed fruit bat and big-lipped bat, is a megabat widely distributed in West and Central Africa. They are also persecuted as pests due to their frugivorous diet and their extremely loud honking noises at night. It has low fidelity to its roost and will move to a new roost after 59 days. It is classified as a megabat and is native to Africa.it might be possible that this bat was brought to NJ on a boat and escaped, primitive man may have seen him and the Jersey Devil sightings were sparked in 1909.. Like this guy! [29], As of 2016[update], the hammer-headed bat is evaluated as a least-concern species by the IUCNits lowest conservation priority. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. These bats exhibit classical lek mating and are perhaps the only bats with such. The picture was published in 1909 in the Philadelphia Bulletin. [10], Van Deusan (1968) reports H. monstrosus showing some carnivorous behavior by attacking chickens to drink their blood and scavenging for meat. | In addition to facing extermination at the hands of fed-up farmers, hammer-headed bats in certain countries must also remain on the lookout for hunters who want to eat them. The Jersey Devil is a creature native to the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. The bat has a life expectancy of thirty years in the wild. It is not considered a species of conservation concern due to its large range and presumably large population size. As Dan Evon of Snopes reports, though, there's another possible culprit for Jersey Devil sightings. Smooth dogfish and sandbar sharks feed on blue crabs. "Hammer-Headed Fruit Bat." According to IUCN, the Hammer-headed bat is locally common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Enter your email address to subscribe to Week in Weird and receive the latest weird news delivered directly to your inbox! Fun Fact: Sandbar sharks are the most commonly seen toothed shark in New Jerseys coastal bays. The hammerhead bat is a large bat typically residing in the central-African tropical forests. His name is Nate Rosenhaus and now his band, The Open Doors, will be playing . [10] It relies on camouflage to hide from predators. Habitat: Habitat for this species includes the surf zone, shallow bays, and coral and rocky reefs. The resource-rich wetlands also provide stable and abundant food like crustaceans, fish and rays, improving the shark pups odds for survival. The drawing of this big bat was made on June 26, 2013, and so without looking through the archives I presume that my first encounter of this being was in 2013. The fur is long and smooth, though somewhat woolly in texture on the mantle. In 1718, Leeds retired and his son, the amazingly named Titan Leeds, took over both the family affairs and their penchant for feuding. Below is what I wrote in 2020 from having encountered pictures of the real hammerhead bat which is an animal that lives in Africa, and then coming across mention of the cryptid known as the Jersey Devil which has a striking resemblance to my Big Bat from 2013: The drawing of this big bat was made on June 26, 2013, and so without looking through the archives I presume that my first encounter of this being was in 2013. The Jersey Devil The picture on the right is from the Wikipedia article. It is larger than an adult human in size and looks like as drawn. Below is what I wrote in 2020 from having encountered pictures of the real hammerhead bat which is an animal that lives in Africa, and then coming across mention of the cryptid known as the Jersey Devil which has a striking resemblance to my Big Bat from 2013: Update: This creature is real! And, because they keep the food chain balanced, sharks also indirectly sustain marine environments like seagrass beds and reefs. According to a study published in the Journal of Zoology, the hammer-headed bat is one of the only confirmed species of bat that takes part in the lek mating system. Juveniles that survive this first foray into the Atlantic often return a few months later to their birth bay to spend a second year maturing. With results showing promise, we are promoting expansion of the approach to other sites while advocating for additional policies that protect and restore coastal habitats in New Jersey for people and as a wildlife nursery. April 29, 2020. ", "Description of new pteropine bats from Africa", "Taxonomy and biogeography of African fruit bats (Mammalia, Megachiroptera). Only the males have large, elongated heads. The Sandhill Crane is a herbivore, but since the Jersey Devil has been accused of stealing and attacking livestock and chickens he is thought of as a carnivore. Strong sexual dimorphism is observed in the species, as males are significantly larger than females. Is the Hammerhead Bat a Real Animal? | Snopes.com It lacks a tail. They inhabit lowland rainforest, swamp forest, riverine forests, mangroves, and mosaics of forest and grassland. Its predators are not well-known, but may include hawks. It is classified as a megabat and is native to Africa.it might be possible that this bat was brought to NJ on a boat and escaped, primitive man may have seen him and the Jersey Devil sightings were sparked in 1909 your thoughts? Nick Pope Promises Military UFO Secrets Revealed Today, Groundbreaking Paranormal Documentary Series Hellier Returns with Ten Haunting Episodes of Appalachian Mystery, Meet Devin Person, a Real-Life Wizard Who Grants Wishes on the New York City Subway, The Conjuring of Bigfoot: The Forgotten Case File Detailing the Time Lorraine Warren Met Sasquatch in Tennessee, Phenomenacon: Attend the Worlds First Online Paranormal Conference, Featuring Your Favorite Paranormal TV Stars, Travel Channels Haunted Salem: Live Features the Paranormal Dream-Team in Live, Four-Hour Ghost Hunt. New Jerseys coastal wetlands and back bays play an important role in the life cycle of several shark species, serving as nurseries and providing growing young with an abundance of resources. Both males and females are grayish brown, with brown ears and flight membranes, and tufts of white fur at the base of the ears. The bats have been spotted from Senegal in Western Africa to northern Angola, nearly 3,000 miles to the southeast. [14] This is seen in a few other bat genera, including Epomophorus and Epomops. Males range in mass from 228 g to 450 g, averaging 377 g. Females are about half the size, weighing from 218 to 377 g, and averaging 275 g. Males range in length from 220 to 280 mm, with an average of 250 mm. Males do not assist females in caring for offspring. Leeds eventually converted to the Anglican Church, and the Quakers reacted to this affront by labeling him evil and releasing an official anti-Leeds tract calledSatan's Harbinger Encountered. Additionally, nucleic acid sequences associated with the virus have been isolated from its tissues. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous' Polygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male. Mating Rituals: Hammerhead Bats Honk To Woo : NPR [10], The wings are characterized by low aspect ratio, meaning that it has a smaller wingspan relative to the wing area. After all, who could believe that Pine Barrens is actually haunted by a long-legged, cloven-hooved, bat-winged monster with a long, goat-like face and a body like a kangaroo? Hammer-headed bats feast on the fruit that grows in the area, including figs, bananas, guavas, and mangos, making them frugivores. That said, the hammer-headed bat is a threat in another, perhaps more surprising way. The hammer-headed bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus), widely distributed in equatorial Africa, is one of three species of African fruit bat thought to be asymptomatically infected with the Ebola. The hammer-headed bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus ), also known as hammer-headed fruit bat and big-lipped bat, is a megabat widely distributed in West and Central Africa. Habitat: Sandbar sharks prefer bays, harbors and even the mouths of rivers where, true to their name, they frequent shallow waters over sandbars. ? He is a filmmaker, a business owner, writer, urban explorer and investigator of the odd and weird, a proud parent, happily taken and a connoisseur of hot wings. Apex predators like great white and mako sharks lurk in the deep and will not hesitate to make a meal out of their smaller cousins. They pick and eat fruit at night. Females fly through the group to evaluate potential mates. Jersey Devil | Cryptid Wiki | Fandom The Hammer-headed bat is the largest bat in mainland Africa. Males and females rely on different strategies for foraging. Breeding takes place during dry seasons for some populations and at any time of the year for others. As far as the face of the Hammerhead Bat it appears to be a better explanation of what people of the Pine Barrens have been seeing as opposed to the Sandhill Crane. It has been investigated as a potential reservoir of the Ebola virus, with several testing positive for antibodies against the virus. The bats usually gather in roosts with less than five individual animals, even though . The creature is often described as a flying biped with hooves, but there are many variations. This material may not be reproduced without permission. There are some theories the Devil might be a non-native animal that someone brought over, like a Hammerhead Bat. Tell us on our Facebook page, at Twitter, or in the comments below! By using this site you consent to our use of cookies as per our. [18] Members of the same group show little interaction with each other: they do not "squabble", vocalize, or groom each other. This breed of bat (Hammerhead) might have been mistaken as the Jersey Devil. Even bats native to areas that experience cold winters - like New . The Nature Conservancy is using innovative natural solutionsto help salt marshes persist. It chews the fruit, swallowing the juice and soft pulp, before spitting out the rest. It has patches of white fur at the base of the ears, though sometimes indistinct. Bats have such incredibly bizarre faces, they are fascinating to me. But hey, who knows where these guys or their cousins hung out a few centuries ago? Males overall have boxy heads with enormous lips, while the females, with their narrower snouts, have more foxlike faces. In July 2018, many social media users wondered if they were witnessing a similar creation in an image of an odd-looking, large animal said to be a "hammerhead bat": We have not been able to pinpoint the exact origins of this photograph, but we can say that the hammerhead bat (also known as the "hammer-headed bat") is a genuine animal that looks like the one pictured here. The young sharks will generally remain in the estuary to grow in size, skill and confidence for about a year before swimming out to the open ocean where life is a bit more dangerous. Approx An insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. According to Cape Bay Magazine, skeptic, author andSkeptoidproducer Brian Dunning certainly believes this: "In most cases like this, some of the sightings turn out to be mistaken identifications of everyday animals or something else," he has said. Instead, they have a harem system. "Hypsignathus Monstrosus: Hammer-Headed Fruit Bat." Fun Fact: Smooth dogfish feed on crustaceans, squid, bony fish and small shellfish, using their tiny, rounded teeth to crush prey. It forages at night, sleeping during the day in tree roosts. After mating, the female immediately departs, and the male resumes displaying. Hammer-headed bats prefer to roost in trees, typically 20-30 m (66-98 ft) above the ground, and move to a new roost every 5 to 9 days. Habitat:These sharks commonly reside on continental shelves, and in bays and other inshore waters. 5. They eat fruit mostly figs. Unless you count the stars of the billion or so reality shows set in New Jersey, the Garden State's strangest and most famous creature is the Jersey Devil. In this mating ritual, large groups or leks of bats, from 20 to well over 120, gather to attract females. On average, they grow up to three feet long. The hammer-headed bat is frugivorous, consuming a variety of fruits such as figs, bananas, and mangoes, though a few instances of carnivory have been noted. The GPS trackers we deployed, and seen on this bat, will help us understand the ecology and behavior of hammer-headed bats. [12] Upon finding suitable fruit, the hammer-headed bat may eat at the tree or pick the fruit and carry it away to another site for consumption. While might catch glimpses of Travel Channel is kicking off Halloween season on October 4th with a very special live event that brings together more of the networks top paranormal stars than you can For most of us, ignoring the strange people on the subway is second nature, but if you ever find yourself in the tunnels below New York City and you Tweets by @WeirdHQ Viral long-haired Yankees bat boy gets big break for band We may have detected a typo. They eat fruit mostly figs. Calm, shallow salt water bodies like Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor provide ideal conditions for offspring of the smooth dogfish, sandbar shark and sand tiger shark species. One hundred years ago, thousands of people believed. But farmers arent the only people who hunt down these distinctive creatures. They can fly. These leks are usually formed along streams or riverbeds and consist of 20-135 males. Of course, historical sources make no mention of a screeching demon child flying around, except when recounting the legend. Unexplained-Mysteries.com We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. Aesop, The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues. The species is a suspected reservoir for the Ebola virus, but as of 2017, only antibodies against the virus (not the virus itself) have been found in the animals. FYI - The Video loops twice in both parts so the viewer doesn't miss it!I was filming on the beach in Seaside, NJ when an unexpected visitor decided to ride . To manage or opt-out of receiving cookies, please visit our. I have to say, the hammerhead bat would probably seem a lot less cute if it came flying towards you with a one-metre wingspan, but when it's just an image on a screen, I can understand the obsession. Unfortunately, from an epidemiological perspective, wet markets sometimes do more harm than good. Retrieved 30 July 2018. I guess a person could think it was high in the sky when really it wasn't very far above them. The Orion Project - Big Bat Female bats fly through the lek, select a male they wish to mate with, and land on the branch beside him. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. The biggest threat to Hammer-headed bats is habitat destruction. Get text updates from The Nature Conservancy: TNC staff survey plants and wildlife as part of a study to see how the ecosystem is re-colonizing low areas of the marsh post-restoration. Because of their all-fruit diet, theyre considered a pest by many African farmers, who eliminate them when necessary to save their crops. Nevertheless, you shouldn't get too close, because it's one of three species of African fruit bat believed to carry the Ebola virus. Well, that's the thing. . While it has been documented in savanna habitats, these records are rare, and it has been speculated that these individuals are vagrants. Smooth dogfish nurseries have been documented in New Jersey's estuaries and shallow tidal waters, particularly Great Bay and Little Egg Harbor. Females will fly through the lek, selecting a male by landing on a branch next to him and the chosen male emits a "staccato buzz" call. Great white sharks tend to concentrate in areas where their prey is also concentrated. Juveniles, called pups, receive no maternal care after their live birth, so will quickly take protective cover among the marsh grasses. This creature seems to be by all means associated with the Agenda group. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammer-headed_bat. I happened upon a post by a Facebook friend which depicted a real animal that is called the hammerhead bat, and to my surprise this looked so much like the mysterious cryptid creature I recalled having witnessed one time, which I have listed here on this page. Hammerhead bats are native to Central Africa, and . Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. [10] The males at the center of the lek have the most success, and are responsible for the majority of matings:[12] the top 6% of males have 79% of the total matings. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Offspring are born five or six months later, typically a singleton, though twins have been documented. On a river in the African country of Gabon, behavioral ecologist Jack Bradbury went searching for one of the most unusual of animals: the hammerhead bat. Could the Jersey Devil possibly be a misidentified "Hammer-Head Bat It much resembles the fruit bat which is a species of bat on Earth, although the head of this big bat reminds me of the head of a horse. Adults are commonly affected by parasites such as flies and mites. Photographs exhibiting the forced perspective optical illusion have caused confusion about the relative sizes of frogs, rats, snakes, and half-eaten sharks. Don't criticize what you do not understand. We've collected a few other images of the hammerhead bat for comparison: Images of the hammer-headed bat are often met with skepticism, and some viewers claim that this odd-looking creature could be the real-world animal responsible for various sightings of mythical creatures such as the "New Jersey Devil.". It should have been named, Tubenose Smileyface Photogenicus Bat. The average female weighs eight ounces and doesnt appear all that different from other fruit bats. Females tend to travel a consistent route to find predictable fruits, whereas males travel more to find the highest quality fruit. With wingspans of up to 38 inches and weighing in at around a pound, the hammer-headed bat is Africas largest bat, according to Bat Conservation International. (Chris Chaos is a long time resident of South Jersey who once again resides in and writes from Gloucester City, New Jersey. Minus the bat, all the mentioned animals are on the larger sized and also eat fruits or various kinds of plants. The hammer-headed bat is also known as the big-lipped bat. 2015. During the day, the bats roost in trees, relying on their coloration to camouflage them from predators. Did you mean to type In the forest canopy, they also rely on camouflage to hide them from predators. Please enter a valid email address (formatted as name@company.com). She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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