Name______Bats #______
Myth #1: “Blind as a bat.”
There are no blind bats. In fact, bats see very well. However, no animal can see in complete darkness, so many insect-eating bat species rely on echolocation to help them find their prey.
Myth #2: Bats spread rabies.
Any warm-blooded animal can contract rabies, but bats are no more likely to carry rabies than any other animal. They are actually quite tidy, and they certainly don’t waste precious feeding time looking for people to terrorize. You should still use caution if you find a bat on the ground or in your house (or any other wild animal). Please refer to the link below for instructions on helping sick or injured bats.
Myth #3: Bats are pests.
Change one word in that sentence and it will be correct. “Bats EAT pests.” Little brown bats, which are common in much of North America, consume up to 1,000 insects an hour. That’s 1,000 fewer mosquitos per hour per bat! Yes, sometimes bats set up housekeeping in places where they are not wanted, like attics and garages. There a many online resources that suggest ways for discouraging this without harming the animals.
Myth #4: Some bats will suck your blood.
There are three species of vampire bats native to Central and South America that do eat blood. However, they don’t suck blood. Instead, they make a small incision in the “donor” animal and lap up the blood with their tiny tongues. One of these blood-eating bats feeds on blood from mammals (usually livestock). The other two prefer to feed on bird blood. Feeding activities do no cause any harm to the animals, which usually go on sleeping through the entire process.
Bats Are Cool!
Now that we’ve blown away a few myths, let’s talk about how cool bats are. There are about 1,200 species of bats divided two main groups. Megabats are, as the name suggests, larger and primarily fruit-eaters. Microbats are usually smaller and primarily eat insects.
Although people often think of bats as flying rodents, they are not related to rodents at all. They belong to their own group called the Chiroptera, which means “hand-wing.” Genetically they are closer to monkeys than rodents.
The smallest bat is the Kitti’s Hog-nosed bat (AKA bumblebee bat), which weighs about the same as a U.S. penny (2 grams) and has a wingspan of about 6 inches. The largest bats are species of flying foxes, which can have wingspans of up to 6 ½ feet.
In addition to being better bug control that an armada of bug zappers, bats are also important pollinators. Fruit-eating bats are also an important to forest restoration. Their guano, or poop, contains seeds from the fruits they eat. Through the bats, seeds are spread to cut or burned areas, fostering new grow.
Researchers have discovered that a chemical in vampire bat saliva breaks up blood clots and may lead to a new treatment for stroke victims. One day you may also owe your life to a vampire bat. Kind of puts these amazing creatures in a different light, doesn’t it?
Want to Know More?
• Bats4Kids, games, bat house plans, and more: http://www.bats4kids.org/
• “What To Do If You’ve Found a Bat,” from Bat World Sanctuary: http://batworld.org/what-to-do-if-you-found_a_bat/
• Bat Conservation International, includes resources for teachers and kids: http://www.batcon.org/
• The Bat Scientists, by Mary Kay Carson
• 20 Fun Facts About Bats, by Heather Moore Niver
• Hello, Bumblebee Bat, by Darrin Lunde
• Bats, by Gail Gibbons
Posted on October 10, 2013 by Christy Peterson
Bats are the only flying mammals. They give birth to live young and nourish them with milk. Bats are nocturnal; they are most active at night and sleep during the day hanging upside-down. Bats are found in all types of habitats all around the world except at the poles. There are over 900 different species of bats.
During the cold winter, some bats migrate to a warmer area. Some bats (like the brown bat) hibernate during the cold of winter, sleeping very deeply until warm weather arrives.
Anatomy: Bat's wings are long fingers covered by thin skin. They have furry bodies. Some bats have short tails, other have no tail. Bats have weak legs and don't walk very well. The smallest bat is the bumblebee bat (with a wingspan of 6 inches=15 cm, weighing less than a penny); the biggest bat is the flying fox bat (with a wingspan of 6 feet=1.8 m, weighing 2 pounds=1 kg).
Senses/Diet: Bats can see, but do not use this as their primary sense.
There are two types of bats that differ in their diet and in the way they sense and obtain food. Bats are divided into:
· Microchiropterans: These bats use echolocation to find insects and small animals to eat. While flying, these bats send out high-pitched sounds that bounce off other objects. The bat listens for the bounced sound, and can determine where objects are located. People cannot hear these high-pitched sounds. Some Microchiropterans include the vampire bat, the frog-eating bat, etc. The vampire bat is the only bat (and the only mammal) that eats blood. It makes a small hole with its two very sharp incisor teeth and laps up the blood, which doesn't clot because of anti-coagulants in the bat's saliva.
· Megachiropterans: These large bats use the sense of smell to find their food, fruit and/or nectar. Some Megachiropterans include the fruit bat, the blossom bat, etc. Enchanted Learning.com