Content
- Characteristics of bats
- where bats live
- what do bats eat
- how bats communicate
- Types of bats and their characteristics
- 1. Fruit bat
- 2. Vampire Bat
- 3. Indian Bat
- 4. Egyptian fruit bat
- 5. Philippine Flying Bat
- 6. Little brown bat
- 7. Kitti Pig's Nose Bat
The bat is one of the few flying mammals. It is characterized by having a small body and long wings with stretched membranes. They can be found on all continents, except Antarctica and some islands in Oceania, so there are different species with their peculiarities.
Want to meet the types of bats? In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will tell you about the species that exist, their characteristics and other curiosities. Keep reading!
Characteristics of bats
Due to the wide variety of existing species, the body morphology of bats can vary. However, there are some characteristics of bats that they all share, such as having the body covered with a very short layer of hair that provides protection, both in wet environments and against low temperatures. Almost all bats are lightweight (except the giant bat) as weigh a maximum of 10 kilos.
You front fingers these animals are distinguished by being joined by a thin membrane. This membrane allows them to fly and control the direction they take with greater ease. When they land, they fold it up without a hitch.
where bats live
As for their habitat, the various species of bats are distributed all over the world, except in some very cold areas. It is common to see them in places with tropical and temperate climate, especially in forests, although they are also capable of living in deserts, savannas, mountainous areas and swamps. They prefer caves and trees to rest or hibernate, but they can also be found in dark corners of houses, cracks in walls and trunks.
what do bats eat
The feeding of bats varies according to its species. Some feed only on fruit, others on insects or flower nectar, while others eat small birds, amphibians, mammals or blood.
how bats communicate
Bats communicate through a very particular ability called echolocation. Echolocation is a system that allows visualize objects thanks to very low frequency sounds, since the bat emits screams that ricochet off these objects and, when the sound returns, they are able to deduce their surroundings.
Bats are not blind animals, contrary to what many people think. They have a vision capable of locating the terrain and perceiving certain dangers, but it is short-range. Therefore, echolocation helps them to survive and locate themselves more easily.
Types of bats and their characteristics
After reviewing the characteristics of bats that are common to all species, you should know, as we've said, that there is a wide variety of types of bats. The most popular are as follows:
- fruit bat
- vampire bat
- indian bat
- Egyptian fruit bat
- Philippine Flying Bat
- little brown bat
- Kitti Pig's Nose Bat
Next, we will talk about all these species and the particular characteristics of each one of them.
1. Fruit bat
The fruit bat (Pteropus livingstonii), also called flying fox bat, has a head similar to the head of these mammals. This type of bat is divided into several subspecies, which reach from 40 to 50 centimeters in length. As its name implies, they essentially feed on fruits.
2. Vampire Bat
Another type of bat is the vampire (Desmodus rotundusol), a species originating in Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Unlike the fruit bat, feeds on the blood of other mammals, making a cut of about 7mm in their tusks to get it. As a result, the prey can suffer infections, parasites and also contract diseases such as rabies. On some occasions, it can feed on human blood.
This species is distinguished by having a short tail, measuring approximately 20 centimeters and weighing 30 grams.
3. Indian Bat
The Indian Bat (myotis sodalis) é from North America. Its coat has a grayish-brown color, with a fraction of the trunk black and a light brown abdomen. Their diet is based on insects such as flies, beetles and moths.
This is a sociable species that inhabits large bat colonies, allowing them to retain their body heat. It is in danger of extinction due to the destruction of its habitat.
4. Egyptian fruit bat
The Egyptian Bat (Rousettus aegypticus) inhabits the caves of Africa and Asia, especially in India, Pakistan and Cyprus. It has a dark brown coat, which becomes lighter on the neck and throat. It feeds on fruits such as figs, apricots, peaches and apples.
5. Philippine Flying Bat
A peculiar type of bat is the Filipino flying bat (Acerodon jubatus), species characterized by its large size, as it measures 1.5 meters, which is why it is considered a giant bat, being also the biggest bat in the world. It inhabits the tropical forests of the Philippines, where they feed exclusively on fruit.
the giant bat is in danger of extinction, due to deforestation of its natural habitat. If you want to meet other jungle animals, don't miss this article.
6. Little brown bat
O Myotis lucifugus, or small-brown bat, can be found in Mexico, the United States, and Alaska. It has a brown coat, large ears and a flat head. The species feeds only on insects. As its name implies, it is a small species, since weighs just 15 grams.
7. Kitti Pig's Nose Bat
This type of bat, the Craseonycteris thonglongyai, and the smallest bat that exists, reaching only 33 millimeters in length and weighing only 2 grams. It inhabits southeastern Burma and western Thailand, where it lives in lime caves and watersheds.
