By Josie February 8th, 2023
Historically bats have been associated with vampires and blood-sucking, so their adorableness has been overlooked.
We're here to rectify that.
Bats are incredible bug catchers and play an important role in ecosystems worldwide.
Currently, there are about 1,400 different species of bats worldwide.
The little brown bat is one of North America’s most common bat species.
The little brown bat is one of the longest-living bat species, having an average lifespan of over 30 years.
Their 2-foot wingspan makes them a megabat species of medium size.
Being a very social creature, it frequently roosts in large numbers in caves.
It's a family consisting of 197 species.
The massive golden-crowned flying fox has a 5.5-foot wingspan and can weigh up to 3 pounds.
A lot of their roosts have sadly been logged because people often hunt them for their meat.
The frequency of their echolocation sounds helps to differentiate the two species.
The soprano pipistrelle calls at 55 kHz, compared to the common pipistrelle's 45 kHz.
These little bats can form colonies that include 20,000 to 50,000 members.
Each night, they can consume up to half of their body weight in insects, and are consequently excellent for pest management.
Its name comes from the face's nose leaf, which resembles a horseshoe.
Due to its small size, it can squeeze into spaces too narrow for other bats to fit.
It covers its body with its wings when it is hanging upside down.
According to studies, the Mexican free-tailed bat can fly up to 100 mph, making it the world's swiftest mammal by a wide margin.
Over extended distances, the Mexican free-tailed bat might be the animal kingdom's fastest flier.
These bats' reproductive practices are one of their distinctive characteristics.
The Evening Bats can have three pups a year, which is uncommon for bats.
This might be a factor in keeping a stable population despite their short lifespans.
Bats are not given nearly enough credit for their cuteness!
(and their essential contributions to the world's ecosystems.)