Let’s talk about bats. Bats are fascinating animals. Most people know that bats are the only mammals that are capable of true flight. There are more species of bats than any other mammals. There are around 1200 species found worldwide; making up one quarter of all mammal species on earth. Most bats live longer than other mammals their size. The oldest known bat is 41 years old. The lifespan of a mouse is only about nine months to two years. The oldest fossil of a bat is 52 million years old.
Bats belong to the order Chiroptera which means hand-wing. Bats are divided into two groups Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera. The largest bat is the Malayan Flying Fox which has a six-foot wingspan. The smallest bat, with a 6 inch wingspan, is Kitty’s Hog-nosed Bat also known as the Bumblebee Bat.
Bats are often misunderstood. Bats are not blind. Not all bats are nocturnal. Not all bats use echolocation. People fear bats for a variety of reasons. Regarding the rabies threat, bats have no more occurrence of rabies than other mammals. They actually have a relatively low infection rate. Another fear is having a vampire bat bite one’s neck. Vampire bats do not suck blood. They make a small bite and then lap the blood, less than a tablespoon of blood at a feeding. There usual prey is cattle. Bats have important roles in nature. Megachiroptera are frugivores, have good eyesight, and pollinate plants. About 70% of bats are insectivorous micro-bats and use echolocation to find prey. A single little brown bat can eat up to one thousand mosquitoes in an hour. Bats are also an important source of food for larger predators.
About half of all species are endangered or threatened. Many bat populations are in decline due to habitat destruction or disturbance. In winter some bats migrate to warmer climates while others hibernate. A hibernating bat’s heartbeat is slowed to about ten beats per minute while an awake and flying bat’s heart beats about one thousand times a minute. If a hibernating bat is roused it will quickly use up its energy reserves trying to escape. Unfortunately, this episode will lead to the bat’s death because it will be unable to sustain itself for the duration of the winter.
The newest species of bat was discovered in Vietnam. It is Hipposideros griffini,, named after Donald Redfield Griffin, an echolocation expert. It’s proposed common name will be Griffin’sLeaf-nosed Bat. It’s unusual nose is thought by some to look like the head of an owl. Its distinctive echolocation frequency and DNA differences helped establish it as a new species.
As we become more aware of the importance of biodiversity, we must continue to work to preserve more of the world’s unique and truly awesome wildlife.
