Hoary Bats (Lasiurus cinereus) are one of several bats known to have penile spines. These spines can be up to 1cm long, longer than in any other known species. They may serve to lock copulating bats together mid-flight. Ouch.6yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Over a million bats live at 305 S Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704. This bridge is the largest urban bat colony. They are currently emerging between 8:30 and 9pm. Current emergence times (updated weekly) are provided by Bat Conservation International on their website.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Most bats eat insects. A few enterprising species have scaled up to hunt small mammals and birds. The Spectral Bat (Vampyrum spectrum) is the largest carnivorous bat with a wingspan of nearly a meter.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Evidently, Prey Previously Fed upon by Common Vampire Bats (Desmodus rotundus) develop a Resistance to Draculin7yr ⋅ Nachtigall44 ⋅ r/BatFacts
With a wingspan of up to 95 cm and a weight of 250-350 g, the straw-colored fruit bat is the second-largest bat on the African continent.8yr ⋅ Aelegans ⋅ r/BatFacts
Out of the 1300+ bat species, only three of them drink blood. These real-life vampires live in Central and South America. The most common species (Desmodus rotundus) prefers large mammals like cows and pigs, while the other two species prefer to feed from birds.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Orphaned flying fox pups must be fed every 2-4 hours depending on their age and condition.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) distributes the seeds of the cashew tree in some regions.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Brown Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus) is endemic to Europe, where it is widely distributed south of 65°N, east into Ireland and west of the Urals and north of the Caucasus. It's population is considered stable and at a low-risk of extinction.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Multiple bat species may hunt in the same area, but they aren't going after the same prey. One study found that approximately a quarter (23.5%) of the diet of foraging Evening Bats (Nycticeius humeralis) was the spotted cucumber beetle. For the other bat sampled only 8% of their diet was this pest.7yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Despite their name, the Little Red Flying Fox (Pteropus scapulatus) is only small by flying fox standards. Adults have a wingspan of nearly a meter and may fly more than 80 kilometers in search of fruit and nectar!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
According to one old European folklore tradition, bats were extremely fond of fatty foods and would enter homes through chimneys to steal bacon.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Carl Linnaeus grouped bats with primates in his Systema Naturae which helped form the basis for modern taxonomy. He was the among the first naturalists to consider them mammals rather than birds.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Winter is a great time to set up a bat house. With some luck, bats will move in once the weather warms up. Construction plans and placement tips are provided in the comments.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Although bats host more zoonotic viruses per species, the total number identified in bats was lower than in rodents, as there are approximately twice the number of rodent species as bat species. The tendency to roost colonially, often with other bat species, may play a role in transmission.7yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The great evening bat (Ia io) has the shortest scientific name of any living creature!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
At some point during bat evolution their hindlimbs rotated so their knees point upwards when they crawl on their stomach. If they were to climb a ladder, their knees would never get in the way!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
If you enjoy these daily Bat Facts, you might also like the daily updates of rescued baby flying foxes from Batzilla The Bat facebook page operated by Denise Wade at Bat Conservation and Rescue QLD.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The ability of female bats to store sperm within their reproductive tract, often for months at a time, has lead to intense sperm competition between males. This explains the relatively large testes in bats, particularly among the more promiscuous species.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Bat World Sanctuary rescues hundreds of bats each year, including distressed and orphaned wild bats and others from zoos and research institutions.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The superior colliculus structure in the bats' brain lets the bat know where things are in relation to themselves. This structure is uniquely adapted to analyse auditory data quickly and enable quick and accurate corrections of the body in response.6yr ⋅ FillsYourNiche ⋅ r/BatFacts
Commerson's Roundleaf Bat (Hipposideros commersoni) uses its bizarre nose to echolocate. It will often roost in a tree and scan for passing beetles which it then swoops and carries back to its roost for consumption.7yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Unlike many fruit bats, the Hammer-headed Fruit Bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus) is a poor seed disperser. It takes fruit to a nearby roost and squeezes out the juice before discarding the pulp.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Scientists put Vampire Bats (Desmodus rotundus) on a treadmill to study how they walk and learned that they can run at up to 1.14 meters per second!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Female Brazilian Free-tailed Bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) roost apart from and suckle their young on a regular daily schedule. Relative to their size, these bats produce more milk than a dairy cow.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Approximately 70% of all bat species are insectivores. The Greater Naked Bat (Cheiromeles torquatus) is the largest insectivorous bat with a wingspan of 60cm.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
It's argued the female short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus sphinx) performs fellatio on males to prolong copulation. Fellatio likely has evolutionary benefits.8yr ⋅ frostywit ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Western Small-footed Myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum) can be found at elevations up to 9,500ft (2895m). Around this time of the year they have pups!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) vocalizes 20 times per second while flying to detect obstacles or prey. This rate increases to 200 times per second during the final approach when landing or catching an insect. This rapid echolocation is called a terminal buzz.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Bats and other wildlife can become entangled in netting placed on fruit trees. Tangled and distressed, these creatures will die if not rescued by one of the numerous groups of dedicated volunteers.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Most bats are crepuscular meaning that they are most active at dusk and dawn with periods of resting in between.8yr ⋅ Aelegans ⋅ r/BatFacts
It takes less than an hour for a Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) to convert an insect to guano!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The endangered Golden-capped Fruit Bat (Acerodon jubatus) has a 1.7 m wingspan, but only weighs 1.2 kg. This one is carrying her pup.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Young Grey-headed Flying Foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) are capable of flight and follow their mother to forage after three months, but are not weaned until five to six months.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Flying foxes, being unable to echolocate, rely on keen night vision to navigate. They have a reflective tapetum lucidum located in their retina to enhance their vision.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Banana Bat (Musonycteris harrisoni) was first discovered in a banana grove where it was busy visiting flowers to gather the pollen and nectar that it eats.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Biologists have documented spiders hunting bats more than fifty times. Web-building spiders represented the majority of the hunts and in some cases the bats may have died from exhaustion, starvation, or hypothermia as a result of entanglement rather than envenomation.6yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
There are at least 60 extant species of flying fox (Genus: Pteropus). This genus contains the largest of all bat species with many having wingspans greater than a meter.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The amazing diversity of bats is matched by the amazing diversity of bat parasites. Many are extremely host specific with adaptations for finding and clinging to bats that make other mammals species unsuitable hosts.7yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
A coalition of governments and charities has committed $460m to speed up vaccine development for Lassa fever, Nipah virus, and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Nipah and Mers can be spread from bats to domestic animals and people.7yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Moths are hard to catch for bats because they hear echolocation and fly away. The rare barbastelle specializes in eared moths by 'whispering'; its echolocation calls are 10 to 100 times lower in amplitude.8yr ⋅ Searth ⋅ r/BatFacts
Female Black Flying Foxes (Pteropus alecto) reach adult size sooner than males. On average, females gain 2.56 g/day over 14.8 to 17 months while males gain 2.28 g/day over 16.3 to 18 months.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Pallas's long-tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina) uses dynamic hair-like structures on it's tongue to collect nectar!8yr ⋅ Nachtigall44 ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Small Flying Fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) uses its wings as an umbrella when it rains. When it is too warm, its wings make excellent fans.7yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus) has the fewest teeth of any bat! They use their canines like scissors to shear away hair from their hosts.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Honduran White Bat (Ectophylla alba) feeds exclusively on fruits. This one is eating a fig!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Seba's Short-tailed Bat (Carollia perspicillata) has a four month gestation. Pups weigh 5 grams when born, which is about the weight of a nickel.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
A brown long-eared bat closing in on a tasty moth will listen to the sound of the moth's miniscule movements to locate it!8yr ⋅ Searth ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Common Vampire Bat can consume half its body weight in one feeding! Their scientific name, Desmodus rotundus, refers to this. They may even have trouble taking off after such gluttony!7yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The testes of the Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) account for about 2% of his total body mass. If my scrotum contained 2% of my mass, it would weigh about three pounds (1.3kg).8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
In Panama, the Tent-making Bats (Uroderma bilobatum) have two breeding cycles each year corresponding with the fruiting and flowering cycles of plants.6yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Hawaiian Islands are over 2000 miles from the mainland. Genetic tests have revealed that the native bats, the ‘ope‘ape‘a (Lasirus cinereus semotus) have completed this amazing journey twice. Quite a feat for a bat that weighs less than an ounce!8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
It's obvious how the Yellow-winged Bat (Lavia frons) got its name. This African bat is insectivorous.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Much like human speech, Fruit bat vocalizations are emitted in a conversational context. Baby bats have even been known to babble throughout their adolescence like human children!9yr ⋅ Alantha ⋅ r/BatFacts
Similar to Monarch Butterflies bright red colors warning predators that they are unpalatable or even toxic, some moths have developed their own acoustic warning signals to tell bats not to eat them.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Mother flying foxes often fly with their pups in the spring. These pups may survive their mother being electrocuted on power lines and can be rescued by groups like WIRES!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The largest bat species can have wingspans over a meter, with some approaching 2 meters. Like all other flying foxes, these are fruit eaters. The Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus) in this picture can have a wingspan up to 1.7m and weigh 1.2kg.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The echolocation calls of the Western Mastiff Bat (Eumops perotis) are audible to humans and can be heard from over two hundred meters away.7yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Proboscis Bat (Rhynchonycteris naso) is only two and a half inches long. Though they won't be weened for at least two months, pups can reach adult size just two weeks after being born!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Scientists gave bats helium to study the flexibility of their echolocation skills in a novel scenario. The bats did not do very well. With the speed of sound altered by helium-rich air, the bats frequently underestimated distances.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Bats often visit swimming pools to drink. They recognize both natural and artificial bodies of water by the unique echo produced by flat, horizontal features. This system isn't flawless and bats in a laboratory were fooled by a sheet metal pond on a table. Amazingly, this ability is innate.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Bats as a group (Order: Chiroptera) have the largest testes size relative to body size of all mammals. In some species, like this Southern Yellow Bat (Lasiurus ega) the size of the testes changes with the seasons.6yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Vampire Bats (Desmodus rotundus) rarely bite humans, but when they do they tend to bite the cheeks and seem to target women and children over men.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The 95% of the Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens) population hibernates in less than a dozen caves during the winter. Like all hibernating bats, they are extremely vulnerable to disturbance during this time.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Wooly False Vampire Bat (Chrotopterus auritus) is one of the larger bats in South America. It consumes mice and other vertebrates, which it kills with swift bites to the head.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Yuma Myotis (Myotis yumanensis) is a very efficient insectivorous feeder that begins foraging at dusk and usually finishes two hours after sunset. These bats usually feed over water.7yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Indian Flying Fox, Pteropus giganteus, regularly engages in cunnilingus both before and after copulation. The duration of pre-copulatory cunnilingus and copulation was positively correlated.7yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Grey-headed Flying Foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) are the largest bats in Australia. They can have a 1 meter wingspan and can weigh up to a kilogram.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Over a 24-hour period, a lactating female Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) may produce as much as a quarter of her own body weight in milk, which can require consuming her own weight in insects. Males and non-reproductive females only consume half as much each night.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The ears of the Townsend's big-eared bat can be 30-39 mm long. These bats' bodies are only 90-110 mm, meaning the ears are equivalent to a third of their body length!8yr ⋅ Aelegans ⋅ r/BatFacts
The testes of the Honduran White Bat (Ectophylla alba) account for 1.4% of its body mass.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Despite its sugar-rich diet, the Jamaican Fruit Bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) doesn't really get cavities. Scientists found that the surface of its teeth is remarkably similar to self-cleaning surfaces at the microscopic level.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Although now disregarded, the flying primate hypothesis suggested that megabats were a sister group to primates based on very similar visual systems in the brain. The implication of this theory is that flight would have had to have evolved twice in mammals!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Bats are important pollinators. The pollination services of Cave Nectar Bats (Eonycteris spelaea) have been estimated to be worth 137 million US dollars annually in southern Thailand for their role in pollinating durians.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Some bats use their tail membrane, called a uropatagium, as a sort of third wing! Many bats use it to scoop up insects in flight.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Scientists have found that bat species with larger testes have smaller brains relative to body size.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The tongue of the endangered Mexican Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) can extend 7cm, which is pretty impressive for a bat that is only 9cm long!8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The hammer-headed bat, normally a frugivore, has been observed to attack chickens and scavenge for meat.8yr ⋅ Aelegans ⋅ r/BatFacts
Very little is known about the critically endangered Fijian Monkey-Faced Bat (Mirimiri acrodonta). We don't even know how many are left!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Despite living and hibernating in caves which contain the lethal fungus, two species of big-eared bats (genus: Corynorhinus) do not die of white-nose syndrome.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
While most bats do not form mated pair bonds, the Spectral Bats (Vampyrum spectrum) are an exception. They are attentive parents with both partners bringing back small prey for their young. Males are known to wrap their wings around their mate and their young while roosting.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Humans hunt and consume the Little Collared Fruit Bat (Myonycteris torquata), providing a source of food and income; however, these bats may be a natural reservoir of the Ebola virus.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi) act as pollinators and seed dispersers for a number of economically valuable plants including the baobab tree.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Eastern Tube-nosed Bat (Nyctimene robinsoni) uses its nose to find fruits in the forest. It can smell in stereo!8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Van Gelder’s Bat (Bauerus dubiaquercus) is a Central American bat closely related to the more wide-spread Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus). Though it was first described by science in 1957, it remains shrouded in mystery.7yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The fur of the Honduran White Bat (Ectophylla alba) appears green when light shines through the leaf tents they call home. They live in small, cozy groups.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
A colony of Mexican Free-tailed Bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) has become a tourist attraction in Austin, Texas. With roughly 1.5 million bats residing in the Congress Avenue bridge, this is the largest urban bat colony in the world. These bats eat between 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of insects nightly!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Shaggy Bat (Centronycteris maximiliani) has been observed flying slowly in late afternoon, but they always fly slowly. They live in hollow trees in mature South American rainforests and eat insects.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Specialized tendons let bats grip their roosts without using energy, allowing them to claim safe roosting spaces that few other animals can use.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) roosts alone in trees. It relies on its camouflage to keep it safe. Look at this guy pretending to be a dead leaf!8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
In the Greater Bulldog Bat (Noctilio leporinus) testes size is correlated with body mass. This tropical species eats fish, which are available throughout the year, so devoting resources to reproduction does not come with the same trade-offs as for insectivorous bats in temperate regions.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Look at the chin of this Greater Spear-nosed Bat (Phyllostomus hastatus). The purpose of those bumps is still unknown, but glandular or sensory functions have been proposed. Bats are mysterious.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
This pitcher plant (Nepenthes hemsleyana) has specially shaped leaves to reflect the echolocation of the Hardwicke's Woolly Bats (Kerivoula hardwickii) that roost inside it. The plant produces less digestive fluids and is wider than similar carnivorous plants to better accommodate the small bats.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Vampire Bats (Desmodus rotundus) will travel up to five miles to find a nice meal.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The record for bat longevity is currently held by Brandt's Myotis (Myotis brandtii). One individual was recaptured forty-one years after he was originally banded!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparious) is the only species in its genus known to give birth to twins. Ninety percent of females in this species produce twins (one from each uterine horn). Twinning is thought to be an adaptive response to the high mortality of young.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The impacts of forest fires on North American bats seems to be mostly positive. Reasons for this include creating more snags to live in, opening up the understory for flight paths, and possibly promoting flying insect abundance.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Cuban Flower Bat (Phyllonycteris poeyi) roosts in humid caves, sometimes with other bat species. It gets the majority of its protein from consuming the pollen of at least a dozen plant species. It can't hover so it climbs onto flowers.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The worlds largest bat can be found at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory in Kentucky. Around 220,000 guests from around the world visit each year.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The white-winged vampire bats (Diaemus youngi) consume approximately 16 ml (0.54 US fl oz) of blood per day.5yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
To maintain sense of orientation, bats have special cells that measure horizontal direction as well as vertical pitch. The bat brain doesn't compute these as position on a sphere, but as a torus, so 180° flips do not confuse the bat's horizontal sense of direction.8yr ⋅ Searth ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Madagascar sucker footed bat uses bodily fluid secreted by pads on its wrists and ankles to adhere to leaves9yr ⋅ crestedpigeon ⋅ r/BatFacts
Though we often say that bats are nocturnal, many are more accurately described as crepuscular. The Velvety Free-tailed Bat (Molossus molossus) is one such bat and is most active at dusk and dawn and rests in the periods between.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Bat's ears and nostrils create lift during flight. In this Rufous Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus Rouxii) for example, a version with the facial features performed better in digital wind tunnel simulations than one without.8yr ⋅ Searth ⋅ r/BatFacts
The male Black Mastiff Bat (Molossus rufus) produces an odor to attract females. They also sing! This mating call is similar to the vocalizations of a pup.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
It takes 20-30 minutes for a vampire bat to take in approximately 25mL of blood, which is quite a lot for a bat which weighs 30-35g on average. They may even have difficulty taking off!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The California Leaf-nosed Bat (Macrotus californicus) will commute up to 1.3km from its roost to hunt insects.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Some fossil evidence suggests that bats mastered flight before honing their echolocation skills. Due to their small size and delicate bone structure, the fossil record for bats is sparse.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Spectacled Flying Fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) is well-adapted to withstand great variation in ambient air temperature; temperatures from freezing to up to 40°C cause almost no change in the species' metabolic rate.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Endangered Species Day: the Rodrigues Flying Fox (Pteropus rodricensis) is still on the edge, but its future looks brighter because of conservation work such as a captive breeding program.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Bulmer's Fruit Bat was first discovered from fossils and presumed extinct until a colony of less than 200 bats was found roosting in a cave. They are considered critically endangered due to their low population, narrow endemic range, low birth rate per individual, and hunting pressure.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Trinidad Dog-like Bat (Peropteryx trinitatis) is found on French Guiana, Trinidad and Tobago, and a few other islands. It is not found in Idaho.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
True to its name, the Yellow House Bat (Scotophilus dingani) will readily move into houses, including artificial bat houses. They live in small groups of less than a dozen and are fairly quiet so are seldom noticed. They emerge only after dark to forage for insects.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Flowers that attract bats are often white or yellow and fragrant. Some even have specially shaped petals to reflect bat echolocation.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
There are 47 species of chiroptera in the United States and Canada representing 3% of the known species. The most bizarre looking is probably the Ghost-faced Bat (Mormoops megalophylla). It has been called the leaf-chinned bat and the old man bat. It's easy to see where those names came from!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Silver-Haired Bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans) are believed to be one of the slowest flying bats in North America with a flight speed of 4.8-5.0 m/s and only chases prey for short distances. It's not a picky eater and will consume whatever insects are available.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The straw-colored fruit bat travels in massive groups of up to 1 million bats.8yr ⋅ Searth ⋅ r/BatFacts
Though their bright white pelage might make them seem conspicuous, Lesser Ghost Bats (Diclidurus scutatus) fly at altitudes that make them difficult to observe or capture.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Like many birds, some bat species migrate seasonally. The Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis) has been documented flying over the ocean during its migration!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Cavendish bananas, the most popular cultivar, are all genetically identical and vulnerable to diseases. Wild bananas (Musa spp), which are much more hardy due to their genetic diversity, are pollinated and dispersed by bats.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
There is some evidence that bat ectoparasites may serve as vectors for the white-nose syndrome fungus. Humans are also thought to be potential vectors so people entering caves are urged to decontaminate their clothing.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Striped yellow-eared bats live in harem-like social groups of one male and one to three females inside their leaf tents. (X-post from Awwducational)9yr ⋅ Aelegans ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Visored Bat (Sphaeronycteris toxophyllum) is extremely rare and we know almost nothing about it.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Samoan Flying Fox (Pteropus samoensis) is diurnal. It can be found in late afternoon soaring on thermal updrafts or catching wind currents along the shoreline.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Vampire Bats (Subfamily: Desmodontinae) have a grooved tongue to channel blood into their mouths.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Ponds and parks are great places to see bats during the summer. If you know a great place to see bats, post it in the comments!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The weird, crawling gait of vampire bats was part of the inspiration behind this flying/crawling robot and is a great example of technology inspired by nature (ie biomimicry).9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Small frugivorous bats, like this Dwarf epauletted bat (genus: Micropteropus), account for up to 95 percent of the aerial seed dispersal required for reforestation of abandoned farmland in Africa.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Every October, millions of Straw-colored Fruit Bats (Eidolon helvum) begin their migration to Kasanka National Park in Zambia. At its peak, there may be 5 million bats in just one hectare (10,000 square meters). This is possibly the greatest mammal migration on earth.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Northern Yellow Bat (Lasiurus intermedius) often roosts in Spanish moss in the southeastern United States.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus) prey mostly on larger insects like beetles and moths.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Bats make up nearly 25% of Britain's native mammal species, including the utterly underrated Common Pipistrelle.7yr ⋅ deadgaiko ⋅ r/BatFacts
The northern bat doesn't move seasonally, but over the years the location of its roosts can travel for hundreds of miles. Their vast range extends from Japan to Lapland, well above the arctic circle9yr ⋅ Searth ⋅ r/BatFacts
Bats in the Library by Brian Lies has only a passing similarity to the real-life library bats of Biblioteca Joanina and Mafra Palace Library in Portugal. These two old libraries are protected from book-eating insects by resident bat colonies.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Since most bats are dependent on echolocation to find their food they are particularly susceptible to noise pollution and bat activity may be decreased in areas as bats choose to hunt elsewhere.8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The ears of the Brown Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus) are around 3.5cm long. Its body is around 4.6cm long.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Newborn bat pups are born weighing 17-28% of their mom's weight, depending on the species. Like many mammals, they have specialized milk teeth for grasping their mother's nipple.8yr ⋅ Aelegans ⋅ r/BatFacts
Rafinesque's big-eared bats have huge ears + glands on their noses to help detect moths. Despite the large ears, they only weigh as much as 2 sheets of paper!9yr ⋅ askantik ⋅ r/BatFacts
The California Myotis (Myotis californicus) ranges across western North America from Mexico to Canada. It alters it behavior based on the temperature and can be active at temperatures as low as -8°C.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Vampire bats have sullied the reputation of bats for many people and other bat species often suffer as a result. Vampire bat control has had a profound effect on populations of the endangered Fernandez's Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina fernandezi).8yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
