megachiropterans, or mega-bats for short, comprise the fruit bats. Often called flying foxes as many have distinctively vulpine (or even lemur-like) faces, these are a mostly large, primarily fruit-eating species, and rely predominantly upon well-developed eyes for avoiding obstacles during night flying.
The microchiropterans, or micro-bats for short, comprise all of the other modern-day bats. Often small and insectivorous, but also including some vegetarian and fish-eating forms, as well as the notorious blood-sipping vampires of tropical America (certain micro-bats are very large too, almost as big as the biggest fruit bats), these emit ultrasonic squeaks for echo-location purposes when flying at night.
Descriptions of the
ahool
and
olitiau
are similar enough to suggest that they belong to the same suborder—but which one?
In view of their size, it would be reasonable to assume, at least initially, that they must surely be mega-bats, and with the
olitiau
in particular there are certain correlations that seem on first sight to substantiate this.
Paul du Chaillu is best remembered as the (in)famous author of grossly exaggerated, lurid descriptions of the gorilla, as encountered by him during his mid-19th century expeditions to tropical Africa. Less well known is that he was also the discoverer of this vast continent’s largest species of bat—a hideous yet harmless fruit bat with a three-foot wingspan known scientifically as
Hypsignathus monstrosus
. On account of its grotesquely swollen, horse-shaped head and an oddly formed muzzle that ends abruptly like the blunt end of a hammer, it is referred to in popular parlance as the hammer-headed or horse-headed bat, and is native to central and western Africa, where it can be commonly found along the larger rivers.
This is particularly true during the dry seasons, when the males align themselves in trees bordering the riverbanks and saturate the night air with an ear-splitting Babel of honking mating calls and loud swishing sounds generated by the frenetic flapping of their 18-inchlong wings. A human traveler unsuspectingly intruding upon such a scene as this might well be forgiven for fearing that he had descended into one of the inner circles of Dante’s Inferno!
In truth, this hellish gathering is nothing more fiendish than the communal courtship display of the male hammerheads—each male hoping to attract the attention of one of the smaller, less repulsive females, which select their mates by flying up and down these rows of rowdy suitors, evaluating the potential of each male performer.
On account of its fearsome appearance, large size, and preference for riverside habitats,
H. monstrosus
has been proposed on more than one occasion as a contender for the identity of the
olitiau
. Yet even under the dramatic circumstances surrounding their Cameroon visitation, it is highly unlikely that Sanderson and Russell could have mistaken a bat with a three-foot wingspan for one with a 12-foot spread, especially as they were both very experienced wildlife observers. Moreover, it just so happens that only a few minutes before their winged assailant made its sinister debut, Sanderson had actually shot a specimen of
H. monstrosus
, so the singularly distinctive physical form of this species was uppermost in his mind. Hence, if the mystery beast that appeared just a few minutes later had genuinely been nothing more than a hammer-headed bat, Sanderson would surely have recognized it as such.
Another problem when attempting to reconcile the
olitiau
with this identity is the
olitiau s
belligerent attitude—for in stark contrast, the hammer-headed bat has a widespread reputation as a harmless fruit-eater with a commensurately tranquil temperament. Having said that, however, I must point out that this ostensibly mild-mannered monster does have a lesser-known, darker side to its nature too, one that is much more in keeping with its gargoylesque visage.
As divulged by American
The microchiropterans, or micro-bats for short, comprise all of the other modern-day bats. Often small and insectivorous, but also including some vegetarian and fish-eating forms, as well as the notorious blood-sipping vampires of tropical America (certain micro-bats are very large too, almost as big as the biggest fruit bats), these emit ultrasonic squeaks for echo-location purposes when flying at night.
Descriptions of the
ahool
and
olitiau
are similar enough to suggest that they belong to the same suborder—but which one?
In view of their size, it would be reasonable to assume, at least initially, that they must surely be mega-bats, and with the
olitiau
in particular there are certain correlations that seem on first sight to substantiate this.
Paul du Chaillu is best remembered as the (in)famous author of grossly exaggerated, lurid descriptions of the gorilla, as encountered by him during his mid-19th century expeditions to tropical Africa. Less well known is that he was also the discoverer of this vast continent’s largest species of bat—a hideous yet harmless fruit bat with a three-foot wingspan known scientifically as
Hypsignathus monstrosus
. On account of its grotesquely swollen, horse-shaped head and an oddly formed muzzle that ends abruptly like the blunt end of a hammer, it is referred to in popular parlance as the hammer-headed or horse-headed bat, and is native to central and western Africa, where it can be commonly found along the larger rivers.
This is particularly true during the dry seasons, when the males align themselves in trees bordering the riverbanks and saturate the night air with an ear-splitting Babel of honking mating calls and loud swishing sounds generated by the frenetic flapping of their 18-inchlong wings. A human traveler unsuspectingly intruding upon such a scene as this might well be forgiven for fearing that he had descended into one of the inner circles of Dante’s Inferno!
In truth, this hellish gathering is nothing more fiendish than the communal courtship display of the male hammerheads—each male hoping to attract the attention of one of the smaller, less repulsive females, which select their mates by flying up and down these rows of rowdy suitors, evaluating the potential of each male performer.
On account of its fearsome appearance, large size, and preference for riverside habitats,
H. monstrosus
has been proposed on more than one occasion as a contender for the identity of the
olitiau
. Yet even under the dramatic circumstances surrounding their Cameroon visitation, it is highly unlikely that Sanderson and Russell could have mistaken a bat with a three-foot wingspan for one with a 12-foot spread, especially as they were both very experienced wildlife observers. Moreover, it just so happens that only a few minutes before their winged assailant made its sinister debut, Sanderson had actually shot a specimen of
H. monstrosus
, so the singularly distinctive physical form of this species was uppermost in his mind. Hence, if the mystery beast that appeared just a few minutes later had genuinely been nothing more than a hammer-headed bat, Sanderson would surely have recognized it as such.
Another problem when attempting to reconcile the
olitiau
with this identity is the
olitiau s
belligerent attitude—for in stark contrast, the hammer-headed bat has a widespread reputation as a harmless fruit-eater with a commensurately tranquil temperament. Having said that, however, I must point out that this ostensibly mild-mannered monster does have a lesser-known, darker side to its nature too, one that is much more in keeping with its gargoylesque visage.
As divulged by American
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