9 curiosities about bats

Residents of the night, these mammals are protagonists of myths and legends that, unfortunately, do not leave them in a very good place. Therefore, here you can learn curiosities about bats that will make you fall in love with them.

There are more than 1,300 species of bats distributed across 6 continents. These animals are so numerous that They represent one fifth of the mammal population on Earthand it is not surprising, since its function for the ecosystem is irreplaceable.

A large number of false beliefs orbit around bats that increase their bad reputation. In this article you will be able to see its true nature revealed through incredible data and curiosities. Do not miss it.

Curiosities about bats

Bats are divided into 2 types according to their size: megabats (Pteropodidae) and microbats (Microchiroptera). Other experts divide them based on their diet, thus separating nectarivores, insectivores, carnivores, frugivores and hematophages.

Each species brings together a series of characteristics according to its habitat and needs.. Therefore, what applies to some bats does not apply to others. Below you have some examples of this in the form of curiosities.

1. It is the only mammal that can fly

The bat is the only mammal that flies. Others, like flying squirrels, simply glide thanks to the membranes between their legs. Chiropterans have adapted their forelimbs to be able to lift themselves by flapping their wings, although they have membranes instead of feathers.

2. Echolocation

One of the curiosities about bats that you should know is that They are capable of obtaining a spatial representation of their environment through the echoes of the ultrasounds they emit.. This is called echolocation and is also found in other animals, such as dolphins and whales.

3. They can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes per hour

Thanks to insectivorous bats, insect pests do not occur. They are normally small and have a very fast metabolism, so they have to consume the equivalent of their weight in insects every night.

4. Some species hibernate

In winter, when food is scarce in some regions, bats rest in caves for months. During this hibernation, your heart rate and metabolism slow down. to the minimum to survive without spending hardly any energy.

A striking example is the Murina ussuriensis, a Japanese bat that hibernates in small burrows made under mounds of snow. Keeping its body temperature just slightly higher than its frozen surroundings, it takes advantage of the insulation provided by the frozen water, much like an igloo.

5. Not everyone sucks blood

There is a popular belief that all bats feed on blood. In reality, the only ones who eat a blood-sucking diet are 3: the common vampire (Desmodus rotundus), the hairy-legged vampire (Diphylla ecaudata) and the white-winged vampire (Diaemus youngi).

6. The biggest bat

Although in cities and human populations it is common to see small bats hovering around the clouds of insects, some species are truly gigantic.

The largest is the Philippine diademed bat (Acerodon jubatus), with a wingspan of one and a half meters. This flying fox feeds exclusively on fruit and is in danger of extinction due to intensive hunting.