Learn all about the different types of bats that exist, you will know their characteristics, the way they communicate with each other and much more that you will surely not want to miss.
Bats
One of the most amazing facts about these animals is that of the mammals that have wings, this is the only one that has the ability to fly, in addition to this, as many of you know, it is an animal that does not have a highly developed visual sense, for which has certain limitations regarding this, however, they develop another form of orientation.
If their sense of sight is very low, what they do have super developed is hearing, since, through ultrasound, they are able to find their food source, in addition to avoiding obstacles when moving; This ultrasound system, which is perfect for them, is inaudible to humans.
They usually live at least twenty years, their way of life is mostly nocturnal, so it is very unlikely to come across one of them during the day.
Characteristics of bats
There is great diversity of species of these animals, so physically, they can vary from one to another, even so, there are certain characters that they share, starting with the fact that they all have a layer of short hairs, with which They have some protection in places with low temperatures and where there is a lot of humidity.
Their maximum weight is usually about ten kilos, they have a very thin membrane between their fingers, which helps them to start the flight, but not only this, without having control when flying, having a certain direction is through a membrane.
They are animals that can be found in many areas of the planet, where there are fewer is in places where it is very cold; Their habitat is usually the forest, as well as deserts and savannahs, but it has also been common to see them in swamps, caves and trees, which they use for their respective rest.
Their diet is based on fruits, but in certain species it can vary, since there are some that consume insects, others prefer the nectar of flowers, there are also some that eat small birds, mammals and blood.
How do bats communicate?
Its form of communication is through the so-called echolocation, this being a system by which the target is found through sounds that have a very low level of frequency, which is why people do not hear these sounds, this animal emits that characteristic screech, which bounces off the object and when it is returned they can know what is around them.
It is important to note that these animals are not completely blind, but rather their vision is inferior to that of another animal, they see the terrain and are able to perceive if they are at risk, however, their range is very small, but they are able to survive without problem and to be located easily.
Types and characteristics of bats
It has already been mentioned before that there is a great variety of bats all over the world, each one with certain characteristics, a curious fact is that there are currently at least XNUMX species of bats, a fairly high number, some very small, others not so much, there are four centimeters and two grams of weights, but there are adverse amounts to these, reaching a meter and a half in height and weighing one kilo two hundred grams, so that many people look for How to drive away batsfor fear of being attacked.
Of those thousand two hundred species, there are at least two hundred that are classified by the IUCN as animals in danger of extinction, for which reason a call is usually made to the generation of Environmental awareness, for the correct preservation of the environment.
Next, you will be able to find in some detail several of the most popular bats in the world:
indiana bat
Its origin is North America and scientifically it is called Myotis sodalis, it basically feeds on insects, be it moths, beetles and even flies can be part of its food; As for its fur, it is usually grayish in color, with certain areas in black or light brown.
A curious fact about this species is that it is usually very sociable, which is why they are seen in large colonies, so that they stay warm in seasons of low temperatures, and of those two hundred species that are classified as endangered, this is one of them, since its habitat has been gradually destroyed.
fruit bat
Scientifically it is called Pteropus livingstonii, its head is very similar to that of foxes, for this reason there are places where they are called flying foxes; this type is subdivided into a great diversity of species; A very interesting fact is that its size is usually at least forty centimeters and a maximum of one hundred and fifty centimeters.
Their diet is based on fruit only, which is why it owes its name to this, the most common and what they like the most are figs, but they also eat mangoes, bananas, dates; so it also usually lives in those places where fruits abound.
Bat If you want to
Its scientific name is Desmodus rotundus solo, this species originated in the state of Mexico, but a member of these can also be found in several Latin American states such as Brazil, Argentina and Chile. This one does not feed on fruit like the previous one, but bases its diet on the blood of other animals.
It obtains the blood of its victims by making a cut at least three inches long; cuts that usually cause great problems to these animals, since they infect the wound, they contract a large number of parasites and diseases; There are data that reflect that humans have been victims of these animals.
egyptian fruit bat
It is very common to find this species of bats in caves located in the Asian and African continents, its scientific name is Rousettus aegyptiacus, it is very common in India, Cyprus and Pakistan; His diet is based on fruits, such as apples, figs, peaches and apricots.
Their fur is usually dark in color, but lighter in the neck area. They are large and can weigh about one hundred and forty kilograms, their eyes are very large; may have a slightly more developed visual sense than others.
little brown bat
Its name says it all regarding its size, this small animal can weigh only fifteen grams, scientifically it is called Myotis lucifugus; This species can be found in several countries such as the United States, Alaska and is one of the species of bats in Mexico. In addition to its size, its name also tells its color, which is that it is usually a dark brown, its head is wide and its ears are large.
Philippine flying fox
Its scientific name is Acerodon jubatus, its most peculiar characteristic is its size, since it can reach a meter and a half, which is why it is categorized as a giant bat, in addition to being the largest on the planet.
Its diet is based exclusively on fruits, as its name indicates, it is located in the Philippines, where it can be found in the jungles. This is another of the bats that are on the endangered list, this is because their habitat has been destroyed, the forests have been deforested.
Kitti's Hog-nosed Bat
Scientifically it is called Craseonycteris thonglongyai, its most peculiar characteristic and for what it is best known and has become popular, is because it is the smallest of all, its size is only thirty-three millimeters, but its weight is more amazing. even and it only weighs two grams.
This bat can be obtained in Burma, in the southeast, but also in Thailand, in the west; especially in the caves of those countries and in the river basins.
