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By Becky Jungbauer | August 21st 2009 09:05 AM | 11 comments | Print | E-mail | Track Comments
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About Becky Jungbauer

A scientist and journalist by training, I enjoy all things science, especially science-related humor. My column title is a throwback to Jane Austen's famous first line in Pride and Prejudice


... Full Bio

I laughed when I saw an upcoming conference on aging was to be held in Miami - really, can you think of a better place?

Anyway, I was following a related link and discovered the story of wrinkled bats - not the leathery-skinned, bingo-playing ones living in Florida, but actual bats with the cutest little smooshed faces. I think these deserve a spot on Josh's second cutest babies ever series.


A BBC article says researchers "report in the Journal of Zoology that this bizarre-looking bat has evolved a powerful bite that may give it an advantage over other bats."

The bite allows the pug version of bats to eat "a broader range of foods than other small fruit-eaters with weaker bites."

This cute little critter is only about 17 grams, but produces bite forces up to 20% higher than other bats of similar size.
"We found that relative to head size, Centurio generates the strongest bites known for any fruit-eating phyllostomid (or leaf-nosed) bat," explained lead author Elizabeth Dumont from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the US.

They proposed that a shortage of softer fruits during "lean times" may have provided a selective pressure, driving the evolution of its oddly-shaped skull.

The wrinkled bats come from the same family as vampire bats, but it's actually a very gentle creature.



Comments

adaptivecomplexity's picture
I can't tell which is the strongest resemblance here. Do these bats look more like Lord of the Rings:



Or Star Wars:



I can't decide!




Becky Jungbauer's picture
Ooh! This is a tough one...

Andrea Kuszewski's picture
Those are some of the most hideously cute things I have ever seen! Is the one on the left sticking his tongue out at us?

Becky Jungbauer's picture
I think so! Here's another, scarier, pic:

I can't tell if this guy is upside down, has a bolero, or is a creepy modified Georgia O'Keefe painting.

Andrea Kuszewski's picture
It's like when one of the aliens from V: The Final Battle had his face peeled off...


Fred Phillips's picture
I just went to Florida for a few days to help my 85-year-old father through some medical procedures. His summation of the experience would make a good title for the conference: "Old age ain't for sissies!"

Becky Jungbauer's picture
I don't think "sissy" is used enough anymore. What a great word.

Fred I believe the source of that quote is Bette Davis.
greg

Kimberly Crandell's picture
I'm sure they have really great personalities though.

Becky Jungbauer's picture
Old people or bats?

(P.S. High five for awesome response!)

fred i believe that comment was originally from Bette Davis--or from adam to eve

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