Pel's Pouched Bat

Saccolaimus peli

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Mammalia · Chiroptera · Emballonuridae

About

Pel's pouched bat is a species of sac-winged bat in the family Emballonuridae. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical forests. Its common names also include Giant Pouched Bat and Black-hawk Bat.

Fun Fact

Pel's pouched bats are one of the largest insectivorous bats in Africa and have wing pouches that store glandular secretions used for scent-marking — the function of these unique pouches puzzled scientists for decades.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Tropical rainforests

Diet

Insectivore

Lifespan

5-10 years

Threats

Deforestation
Wildfire

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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