Hairless bat
Hairless bat, Cheiromeles torquatus, also known as the naked bulldog bat or greater naked bat, is a flying mammal in the bat family Molossidae. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. The bat is mostly hairless, with a few short hairs around the neck, on the front toes, and near the throat sac. It uses echolocation to find insects on the wing.
Distribution and habitat: This species is found mainly in Southeast Asia—Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia (including Java), Thailand, Sumatra and Borneo—with some individuals around the Philippines. It prefers lowland areas, marshes, rocky places with holes, dens, farms, and trees. It roosts in colonies to save energy.
Appearance and life: It has dark gray, mostly hairless skin, a broad face, strong jaw, wide wings, and a tail that extends beyond the hind legs. The first toe has a nail and is opposable. It hunts at night, often chasing larger insects than some other bats. A female may have about two litters per year; mothers leave the roost to hunt soon after giving birth, and males usually do not take part in rearing young.
Threats and conservation: The population is falling in some areas because roost sites are destroyed and habitats are fragmented, causing bats to move and become isolated. Some indigenous Malay people hunt them for food, further reducing numbers. They are valuable for pest control, but their numbers are at risk. Conservation efforts include protecting habitats, placing some populations in protected areas, restoring habitats, and educating local people about their ecological role.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 16:42 (CET).