Scientists Rediscover The Super-Rare 'Badger Bat' [PHOTOS]
Some media organizations have called it the "panda bat," but Reeder said the stripes on the back reminded her more of a badger.
![Scientists Rediscover The Super-Rare 'Badger Bat' [PHOTOS]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-21024164%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-1518291%2Fsome-media-organizations-have-called-it-the-panda-bat-but-reeder-said-the-stripes-on-the-back-reminded-her-more-of-a-badger-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
"It's a rare thing for a bat to be striped like that," said Reeder. "Typically when you see something striped like that — a badger or a skunk — it means 'stay away from me, I'm dangerous' or 'I'm toxic.'"
That was my first impression when I had this bat in hand," she said. "But that would be unheard of in a bat.
"I actually showed the picture to someone who is a specialist in animal coloration and the very first thing he said to me was 'did you lick it?,'" Reeder said." And so we have a joke in the field, "don't lick the bats."
The badger bat is clearly different from other bats in the Glauconycteris genus. "It's bigger, the face is different, the nostrils are different, the ears are different, the wings are shaped differently," Reeder said.
The Fauna and Flora International Programme helps Reeder work with the government and rangers. DeeAnn Reeder is holding the 'badger bat' with colleague Adrian Garside of Fauna & Flora.
"Here is something that is unique at the level of genus," Reeder said. "It indicates a real richness in biodiversity." Below Glauconycteris species are on the left and right, and the Niumbaha skull is in the middle.
The name Niumbaha means "rare" or "unusual" and comes from the language of the local Azande people. "This is a recognition that this animal belongs to them," Reeder said. "This is theirs to conserve."
"All of the work I do there is in collaboration with the Ministry of Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism," Reeder said. "I have rangers with me at all times in the field. So that's a great partnership and they know the forest."
Recent peace following South Sudan's independence in 2011 has allowed scientists to go back into the wild and conduct research.
"I really think it is the tip of the iceberg." Reeder said of the badger bat. "There is so much to be discovered." Here she holds Hypsignathus monstrusos, the biggest bat in Africa.
In a few weeks, Reeder will go back to South Sudan for a month to find something new.
Popular Right Now
Popular Keywords
Advertisement