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Did you know that bats are the only mammals in the world that have forelimbs adapted to function like wings? Bats can actually fly better than most birds, because their long spread digits are covered with a thin membrane, which allows them to soar. Read on to discover some interesting facts about bats on this webpage. Also, find out where they hibernate. There are over 1,300 different species of bats.
There are more than 1,300 species of bats in the world
Bats are fascinating creatures. There are over 1,300 species of bats worldwide. The bumblebee bat weighs less than a penny and the flying fox can have a wing span of six feet. They range in color from white, gray, and brown to striped and spotted. Some species have wrinkly faces and large ears. They use echolocation to find prey.
They are the only flying mammals in the world
There are more than 1,400 species of bats in the world. Although they are feared by humans as bloodsucking, rabies-carrying creatures, they are actually beneficial to ecosystems. Bats are members of the class Chiroptera, the only class of mammals that can fly. Bats have long, spread-out wings and thin patagium covering them. The structural adaptations of bat wings enable them to maneuver in the air more efficiently than birds.
They use echolocation to find their prey
The ability to navigate in near total darkness is an invaluable characteristic of bats. They do so by using echolocation, the process of interpreting echoes that bounce off different objects. Humans developed sonar technology to use underwater to find prey, but bats have biological sonar. The ability to use echoes to find prey is one of the primary reasons bats have evolved this remarkable ability.
They hibernate in sub-zero temperatures
Bats hibernate in cold temperatures because they lose a large amount of body heat during the winter months. Their metabolism slows to around 10 beats per minute during this time, which enables them to survive without consuming food. Hibernation is crucial to bats who live in colder areas where insects are scarce. Bats can go long periods without breathing because they reduce their metabolism and concentrate their blood flow on a few vital organs.
They sing love songs
Scientists have discovered that bats can sing love songs and communicate with one another. The researchers studied recordings from two free-tailed bat colonies in Texas – one in College Station and the other in Austin. They discovered that the songs were made of sound waves that are hard for the human ear to detect. Bats also sing songs when they’re afraid of a predator or when they’re lonely. While bats may have no other purpose for singing love songs, it makes them seem more human.
They have one-way valves in their venous bloodstream
The heart is emptying into 7 arteries, each of which branch into one-way valves, or tissue lacunae. All arteries have cardio-arterial valves at their origins, except for the dorsal abdominal artery. The blood then passes through branchiostegal and gills before returning to the pericardial sinus surrounding the heart.
They have wicked hairstyles
Did you know that bats have amazing hairstyles? The Chapin’s free-tailed bat, native to sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the many examples. Female Chapin’s bats wear tiny fur tufts on their heads, while males sport larger, bushier crests. Both crests are important in courtship, and are often associated with love songs and cool looks. In addition to Chapin’s free-tailed bats, there are Brazilian free-tailed bats who follow some rules, but add their own style and look to their wigs.
