Bats

Bats are very unique! Bats are mammals They are the only mammals that are true fliers There are over 1,000 species of bats found on six of the seven continents. Forty-two species of bats live in the U.S.A. and Canada

Bat Bodies Bats are warm blooded, covered with fur, and have a backbone. Baby bats are born live, not hatched like birds Bats have light bones and very long fingers Thin skin covers the fingers of the bat. This is what allows them to fly.

Bats are very careful with their wings. They fold them tightly to protect them when they are not flying. Many bats roost in trees or caves

There are over 1,000 kinds of bats Bats develop different characteristics based on where they live and what they eat. They have adapted to their environment. Some bats have large eyes so they can find food in dim light. Others have small eyes, so they use echolocation to find food.

Echolocation Some bats find food by emitting high pitched squeaks through their nose or mouth. These sound waves bounce off the insect or other food and to help the bat find its location. Echolocation helps some bats fly, communicate with other bats, and find food.

Do you think bats that use echolocation have… Good eyesight? Large eyes? A good sense of smell? Large ears?

Classification of Bats There are billions of different kinds of living things on earth. To help study them, scientists have developed ways of naming and classifying them according to their similarities and differences. The system puts each living thing into seven groups, organized from most general to most specific.

Because bats are so unique, scientists have placed them in their own mammal group called chiroptera (this means hand-wing)

Bats are divided into two groups, Megabats and Microbats They are classified based on how they look and what they eat.

Megabats Larger than microbats Like to roost in trees Eat fruit nectar and pollen Have big eyes and can see very well Do not use echolocation Have a good sense of smell Carry their young when they fly Live in tropical parts of Asia, Africa, Australia and the Pacific Ocean islands Have short, round ears Can have wingspans up to 6 feet long Do not hibernate if they live in a climate that is warm all year long

Microbats Are small in size Eat flying insects, but some eat other things Have large ears Have large,odd-looking noses Use echolocation to find food (can hunt for fish) Small eyes Mostly found in Northern Hemisphere Live in colonies that have up to 20 million bats Some can weigh less than a penny and fit in your hand Hibernate if they live in cold climates