Geoffroy's Horseshoe Bat - Rhinolophus clivosus:Geoffroy's Horseshoe Bat gets its name from the delicate, horseshoe shaped "leaf" on top of the muzzle, which forms part of the nostrils and is essential to the highly evolved system of echolocation by which these bats find their way in the dark. It is thought that the horseshoe amplifies the sounds, but also focuses the sound into beams that can be swept from side to side like a searchlight. The large, pointed ears gather the echoes of the nasal signals bounced back from objects in the bat's path, and relay them to the brain for interpretation. These bats can form colonies of up to 10 000. At night, they rely mainly on their hearing for orientation. They set out shortly after sunset to locate food, and hang themselves in rows on tree branches while feeding. In the hanging position, they wrap their wings around the front of their bodies, with the tail section folded back over the rump: this forms a channel for rainwater to run down and ensures that the fur stays dry. Like other bats, Geoffroy's horseshoe bats bear live young, usually singly, which are suckled. SIZE: Length (including tail) 9,6 cm, wingspan 32 cm, mass (m) 16 g, (f) 17 g. COLOUR: Light brown, with underparts paler. MOST LIKE: The other nine species of horseshoe bat found in Southern Africa, but Geoffroy's is one of the larger species. HABITAT: A wide range of country, from desert to the fringes of forests, but predominantly savanna woodland. The presence of caves or rock crevices for shelter is essential. South Africa - Eco Travel Guides - Wildlife Guides: Travel Guides: -:- Activities & Interests -:- Regions & Areas -:- Routes -:- Maps -:- Wildlife: -:- Vertebrates: -:- Amphibians -:- Birds -:- Fish -:- Mammals -:- Reptiles -:- |