Post by Abraxas on May 16, 2011 12:30:33 GMT -5
I used one particular source for my estimate of the Jersey Devils weight. that being, the hammer-headed bat (HYPSIGNATHUS MONSTROSUS). This animal has very similar bodily features to the Jersey Devil, particularly the face and head. Some have suggested that this was the real influence behind the stories regarding the Jersey Devil's appearance. To look at a picture of this strange looking bat, is to look into the face of the Jersey Devil; particularly, the traditional description of the creature (exemplified by the description given by Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Evans of the strange beast which was perched on their shed on Tues 1/19 1909).
The following theory regarding the weight of the Jersey Devil is based on the similarities between these two beasts, the second part of the theory takes into account the shape of the Jersey Devil's body (as indicated by the traditional description). The body of the Jersey Devil is usually described as being similar to a kangaroo, many species of kangaroos are fairly large; as many of the eyewitness accounts have suggested, the Jersey Devil is probably only about 3 1/2 to 4 feet tall.
Many of the hammer-headed bat's physical features are reminiscent of the general view regarding the Jersey Devil's appearance. It has short brown fur covering its body and head, but its wing membranes are clear of fur. Its head is large and rectangular, with pointed ears, and an inflated nose.
The length of its body and head is about 11.3" it has a wing span of about 3 feet, the bat weighs about 420 grams (about one pound).
The similarities go on from there, its coloration is grayish brown or slatey brown. It has a large, square, truncate head, the muzzle is thick and hammer-shaped. This bat often seeks the high forest or native clearings to feed.
Two professors, Lang and Chapin (1917) comment: "In no other mammal is everything so entirely subordinated to the organs of voice." There is a great enlargement of the voice box (larynx) and vocal cords. The larynx "is nearly equal in length to one half of the vertebral column," actually filling most of the chest cavity. The voice thus produced, a continuous croaking or quacking, is quite remarkable.
This very interesting bit of information fits quit well with many eyewitness accounts of the Jersey Devil's scream. The neck of the Jersey Devil is maybe four times as long as the neck of the hammer-headed bat. Therefore, the scream of the Jersey Devil would probably be more pronounced. Although the sound would possibly be more of a screech, rather then a croak.
I do not believe that this bat was mistaken for the Jersey Devil. However, I do believe that it is the closest comparison that we may ever come across. Therefore if we increase our measurements to fit the 3 1/2 to 4" measurements of our friend from Jersey, we will have a pretty good indication of the Devil's weight.
The head and body of the hammer-headed bat is about 11.3" (nearly a foot) and it weighs about 420 grams (one pound). The wings span of the bat measures about 3 feet, there is no need to make any consideration with this particular attribute, in that the wings span of the Jersey Devil totals to about 4 feet (no wing span measurements have ever been detailed, but it is generally agreed that it has wings of about 2 feet long) if we calculate the length of the hammer-head's body to fit the dimensions of the Jersey Devil's height, which is about four feet, we get the weight measurement of about 1680 grams, 4 pounds.
The next thing that we have to take into consideration is the fact that the Jersey Devil is substantially larger then the hammer-headed bat. The legs and neck of the Jersey Devil are longer and thicker, its body is larger, resembling a small kangaroo. this factor brings us to our next consideration, the "yellow-footed rock wallaby" this small animal is related to the kangaroo family, though it is much smaller then most kangaroos.
The head and body are about 30 inches long, the tail is 15-28 inches long, and the weight of the wallaby is about 20 pounds. Now if we subtract the extremities, including the head, we get an animal of about 18 pounds (an uneducated guess for sure). Once this is done we can take off a few pounds from the total weight of the hammer-headed bat, from this we get a creature which weighs about 18-19 pounds. Is all this accurate? probably not, but it does give us a good idea of the posible weight of the Jersey Devils weight.
The following theory regarding the weight of the Jersey Devil is based on the similarities between these two beasts, the second part of the theory takes into account the shape of the Jersey Devil's body (as indicated by the traditional description). The body of the Jersey Devil is usually described as being similar to a kangaroo, many species of kangaroos are fairly large; as many of the eyewitness accounts have suggested, the Jersey Devil is probably only about 3 1/2 to 4 feet tall.
Many of the hammer-headed bat's physical features are reminiscent of the general view regarding the Jersey Devil's appearance. It has short brown fur covering its body and head, but its wing membranes are clear of fur. Its head is large and rectangular, with pointed ears, and an inflated nose.
The length of its body and head is about 11.3" it has a wing span of about 3 feet, the bat weighs about 420 grams (about one pound).
The similarities go on from there, its coloration is grayish brown or slatey brown. It has a large, square, truncate head, the muzzle is thick and hammer-shaped. This bat often seeks the high forest or native clearings to feed.
Two professors, Lang and Chapin (1917) comment: "In no other mammal is everything so entirely subordinated to the organs of voice." There is a great enlargement of the voice box (larynx) and vocal cords. The larynx "is nearly equal in length to one half of the vertebral column," actually filling most of the chest cavity. The voice thus produced, a continuous croaking or quacking, is quite remarkable.
This very interesting bit of information fits quit well with many eyewitness accounts of the Jersey Devil's scream. The neck of the Jersey Devil is maybe four times as long as the neck of the hammer-headed bat. Therefore, the scream of the Jersey Devil would probably be more pronounced. Although the sound would possibly be more of a screech, rather then a croak.
I do not believe that this bat was mistaken for the Jersey Devil. However, I do believe that it is the closest comparison that we may ever come across. Therefore if we increase our measurements to fit the 3 1/2 to 4" measurements of our friend from Jersey, we will have a pretty good indication of the Devil's weight.
The head and body of the hammer-headed bat is about 11.3" (nearly a foot) and it weighs about 420 grams (one pound). The wings span of the bat measures about 3 feet, there is no need to make any consideration with this particular attribute, in that the wings span of the Jersey Devil totals to about 4 feet (no wing span measurements have ever been detailed, but it is generally agreed that it has wings of about 2 feet long) if we calculate the length of the hammer-head's body to fit the dimensions of the Jersey Devil's height, which is about four feet, we get the weight measurement of about 1680 grams, 4 pounds.
The next thing that we have to take into consideration is the fact that the Jersey Devil is substantially larger then the hammer-headed bat. The legs and neck of the Jersey Devil are longer and thicker, its body is larger, resembling a small kangaroo. this factor brings us to our next consideration, the "yellow-footed rock wallaby" this small animal is related to the kangaroo family, though it is much smaller then most kangaroos.
The head and body are about 30 inches long, the tail is 15-28 inches long, and the weight of the wallaby is about 20 pounds. Now if we subtract the extremities, including the head, we get an animal of about 18 pounds (an uneducated guess for sure). Once this is done we can take off a few pounds from the total weight of the hammer-headed bat, from this we get a creature which weighs about 18-19 pounds. Is all this accurate? probably not, but it does give us a good idea of the posible weight of the Jersey Devils weight.