Bats are the unsung heroes of nature! They are the only mammals that actually fly, flapping their wings to propel them in flight. Because of this unique ability, they are classified with their own special order of mammals, called Chiroptera. The name Chiroptera is derived from Greek and literally means “hand wing”, (chiro + ptera). This refers to how the finger bones of the bat supports its wings. Because of their ability to fly, they are one of the most widely distributed mammals in the world, living on all continents except Antarctica. Wherever there are tropical or temperate habitats, you will find bats. They are the second largest order of mammals with about 1,400 known species, which makes up around 20% of all known living mammal species. Rodents (order Rodentia), is the largest order with 2,277 different species which comprises about 40 % of all mammals. Interesting Bat Facts: Bats have been around since the days of the dinosaurs and ancient bats resembled those living today. Most bats are insectivores (insect eaters) while some are frugivores (fruit eaters). They also consume pollen and nectar. Due to their high metabolism, they must consume 1 to 1 ½ times their body weight each day. Most bats are nocturnal. All bats can see although not well at night. They are NOT “Blind as a bat”. Bats fly by use of an “echo system” that bounces sound waves off insects, flowers and objects. This is an astonishingly effective tool for finding food at night. Bats create and emit their own ultrasonic vocalizations. This ‘echolocation’ system is also employed to avoid collisions with other bats and objects. Bats can also distinguish their own echoes from other bats vocalizations. The vocalizations produced by bats are above the range of human hearing. Bats are extraordinary flying beings. They can fly fast and long. They can also fly as higher than 5,000 feet. The Brazilian free-tailed bat has been tracked flying at 100 mph and is now the record holder for the fastest flying animal on the planet. Up until now, the common swifts had held the record for the fastest fliers. Since bats are rarely studied, there may be even faster bats out there. Bat babies are called pups. Because of the proportionally large size of the pup, most bat species have only one pup per year, or occasionally twins. Because of the low birth rate, the bat population grows very slowly. Their gestation period ranges from 40 days to six months depending on the species of bat. Bat babies, like all mammals, drink milk from their mothers. In approximately May or June, female bats gather together to give birth in large groups called colonies or roosts. Most of the time, pups are left in the roost while the mothers forage outside for insects. Sometimes mother bats fly with their pup attached by their mouths to their underarm nipple while hanging onto her waist with their toes. Carrying a pup which is often more than a third of your weight is no small feat. This is one super strong mom! Although most bats live less than 20 years in the wild, scientists have documented six species that live more than 30 years. In 2006, a tiny bat from Siberia set the world record at 41 years. According to many theories of aging, bats are mammals with remarkable longevity despite their high metabolic rate. They live an average three times more than other mammals of equal size. Scientist are now studying their DNA repair, cancer resistance, stress resistance and mitochondrial physiology to understand why. Important services that bats perform: All species on this planet have an important role to play in their ecosystem. Bats play an important role in keeping their ecosystems functioning, healthy and in balance. Although many people do not think of bats as pollinators, they are important night time pollinators. As they collect nectar and pollen, they pollinate flowers and crops. They also disperse far and wide the seeds from the fruit and berries they eat. They are prodigious consumers of insect pests and super at being one of the best of nature’s pest controllers. They can eat up to 1,200 insects per hour! They can cut down the mosquito population of your home environment and help control your garden pest insects. Bat manure, guano, is one of the highest effective fertilizers due to its exceptionally high content of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium: key nutrients essential for plant growth. White-nose syndrome: There are forty different species of bats in North America. Of the nine species of bats that live in Massachusetts, five are now classified as endangered. The population of the Little Brown Bat, which was the most common bat species in MA, is now only 2% of what it was before 2006. White-nose syndrome, a fungal disease, is responsible for the decimating of the bat population and was first discovered in New York State in 2006. It has now spread throughout North America. In Massachusetts since 2006, we have lost 90% of our bat population. White-nose syndrome is caused by a white colored fungus and is passed from one bat to another. It is considered one of the worst wildlife diseases in modern times killing millions of bats across North America. Bats live during the growing season in forests where the insects are plentiful. Except for some species that migrate south, most bats hibernate in caves during winter when there are no insects to eat. This is when they are vulnerable to White-nose syndrome. As of now, there is no cure for White-nose syndrome. Other reasons for bat population decline: Besides White-nose syndrome there are other reasons our North American bat populations are declining. Bats live in large forested areas, or what’s left of them, during the warmer months. Habitat loss and degradation of the environment due to logging, highway construction, commercial development and surface mining all continue to decimate important bat habitat. At this moment there is no answer to White-nose syndrome, however we can support our remaining bats by protecting what is left of our forests. How to support bats:
Be a bat ambassador by learning about bats and sharing what you learn with family and friends. By educating yourself and others, you can help dispel unfounded myths and fears about bats.
Note: Humans are mammals of the Order primates. The order Primates is the third most diverse order of mammals, after rodents and bats. How many primate species exist today is not clear since new species are still being discovered. Most estimates are in the range of 376-522 species depending on which classification is used. Over 25 new species were found in the 2000s, 36 in the 2010s and three in the 2020s. Primates arose 85 -55 million years ago from small terrestrial mammals, and adapted to living in the trees of tropical forests.
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