Khushboo Shrivastava

Kitti’s Hog Nosed bat, also known as bumblebee bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai) is the smallest mammal in the world with only 29-33 mm (1.14-1.29 in) head-body length, weighing 1.7-2 g (0.05-0.07 oz) and possessing a wingspan of approximately 130-145 mm (5.1-5.7 in). This unique creature is the only extant species in Craseonycteridae family and is native to Thailand and Myanmar where it roosts deep inside remote limestone caves near rivers.

The tiny creature has many astonishing features including its facial appearance with its thickened pig-like snout having two crescent-shaped nostrils, relatively large ears, small eyes. The colour of its body is buffy brown to reddish above whereas paler at the belly. They comprise uropatagium which is a big network of skin extending between back legs and help them in flying. There is a swelling at the base of the throat in the males to distinguish them from females. Kitti’s Hog-Nosed bats are active in dawn and dusk both but most active during evening and morning hours and use the technique of echolocation to catch their prey that includes insects like beetles, spiders, small flies, etc…Read more