Hipposideridae – Old World leaf-nosed bats
The old nose knows, and it runs in the family
Another family of leaf-nosed bats is those of the Old World (Asia, Africa, Australia). Their noseleafs are complex and varied in shape, including rounded, trident- and petal-shaped. They are insectivores who snatch their prey out of the air in mid-flight. Like other leaf-nosed bats, their nose produces high-frequency sounds for echolocation and not for smell.
They roost in groups, in various places, from caves to tombs and even in porcupine burrows! These bats give birth to a single pup. The pups cling to fake teats (these teats don’t produce milk) on their mum’s tummies and are carried by their mothers until they learn to fly.
Genera in this family
This genus of bats contains four species of leafed-nosed bats that are native to Africa
Despite their small size, they are fierce predators, feeding on a variety of insects including moths, beetles, and flies