October is Bat awareness month. Post a bat fact and you’ll get special flair.6yr ⋅ [deleted] ⋅ r/BatFacts
Male Little Free-tailed Bats (Chaerephon pumilus) have sweet hair that makes them easily recognizable in flight as they catches insects. This species is widespread in Africa.6yr ⋅ [deleted] ⋅ r/BatFacts
Thirty-six years ago less than 100 of the critically endangered Rodrigues Fruit Bat (Pteropus rodricensis) remained, but conservation efforts have helped increase this to over 4000 bats.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Painted bats are rare but their roosts can be found in the suspended nests of weaver finches and sunbirds or under the eaves of huts.9yr ⋅ Searth ⋅ r/BatFacts
this little guy has a broken wing. it's a canyon bat. I can't take him to an animal shelter for lack of transportation and if hate to see home die. does anybody know what I can do to help him? his left wing is entirely broken. HALP8yr ⋅ TheSavageBelle ⋅ r/BatFacts
The White-winged Vampire Bat (Diaemus youngi) feeds on the blood of birds, including pigeons, chickens, and turkeys!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) was recently granted new protections under the Endangered Species Act. It is one of several bat species declining due to White Nose Syndrome, an invasive fungus which ravages bats while they hibernate.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Hairy-legged Vampire Bat (Diphylla ecaudata) is the only one of the three vampire species that has been documented in the United States. It seem to strongly prefer avian blood and often lands on chickens and bites them near the cloaca!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Egyptian Fruit Bat was first described from a specimen caught in the Great Pyramid in Giza.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Common Blossom Bat (Syconycteris australis) is one of the smallest megabats weighing less than an ounce. It consumes only flower nectar and pollen.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Little Brown Bats can reduce their heart rate from 200~ bpm to 20~ bpm while hibernating!9yr ⋅ Sinfulfayt ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Cave Nectar Bat (Eonycteris spelaea) is the primary pollinator of the king of fruits: the durian. These bats fly as far as 40km from their day roost, often a cave, to visit flowers.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Fringe-lipped Bat (Trachops cirrhosus) is an opportunistic foliage-gleaning omnivore, feeding on whatever it can find and subdue. It commonly roosts with other bat species, and may even occasionally prey on them!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
5 After finding and approaching its prey, the White-winged Vampire Bat (Diaemus youngi) licks the potential bite location. This may help soften the area (often scaly bird feet) or anesthetize it.9yr ⋅ [deleted] ⋅ r/BatFacts
White-winged Vampire Bats (Diaemus youngi) can identify each other with social calls and will call back and forth to each other to maintain contact!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Spix's Disc-winged Bat uses biological suction cups adhere to smooth leaves and can even stick to glass. When climbing in this way, only the adhesive discs touch the surface.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Biologists can determine the age of young bats by looking closely at the cartilage between their finger joints.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
According to Cuban lore, bats symbolize good luck, which is part of the reason Bacardi chose the bat as their logo. They also may have had fruit bats living in the roof of their distillery.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Hawaiian Hoary Bat, also known as the ‘Ope‘ape‘a, is the only land mammal native to Hawaii. It is federally listed as endangered.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Bats not only use their own echolocation to find food; they also use their peers. Bats will 'eavesdrop' on other successfully foraging bats and follow them to potential prey locations.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Male big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) call dibs on flying insects using distinct social calls to avoid competition and collisions.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Orphaned baby bats at Tolga Bat Hospital require a lot of care and get wrapped in blankets!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) spend a lot of time grooming fur and their wing membranes. This specialized skin, called the patagium, feels somewhat similar to the skin of human eyelids in that it is simultaneously soft, strong, and stretchy.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
A couple of years ago an acquaintance took a picture of a cool bat she found. What kind of bat is this?9yr ⋅ [deleted] ⋅ r/BatFacts
Although most microbats use echolocation to find their food, Spectral Bats (Vampyrum spectrum) seem to locate prey using their sense of smell or the distress calls of small bats. They can take birds which weigh as much as they do!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Lesser Bamboo Bat (Tylonycteris pachypus) lives inside hollow bamboo shoots. Up to 40 of these small bats may share a chamber of giant bamboo.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Fringe-Lipped bat (Trachops cirrhosis) specializes in eating frogs. It locates the frogs by listening for their mating calls and is able to distinguish between palatable and toxic species. One researcher even trained some of these bats to associate heavy metal music with a tasty treat!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Most small mammals live fast and die young. This is not the case for bats, which have recorded lifespans on average 3.5x greater than similarly sized non-flying placental mammals. Five species have been documented living over thirty years in the wild.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Both flight and echolocation are energetically expensive, yet they both occur in bats, presumably due to codependent evolution where the downstroke of flight reduces the energy costs of sound production8yr ⋅ poopeepoo ⋅ r/BatFacts
Some plants have dish-shaped flowers and leaves that reflect ultrasound to attract bat pollinators like this Buffy Flower Bat (Erophylla sezerkorni).10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Vampires have been present in folklore for thousands of years dating all the way back to Ancient Greece and Mesopotamia. Vampire bats weren't described by science until the 1800s!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) echolocates by clicking its tongue. Some humans are also able to echocate in this way!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The tiny Mexican Funnel-eared Bat weighs between three and five grams. Its tail is longer than its body!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Bats had traditionally been grouped with primates, but some genetic evidence suggests they may be more closely related to carnivorans like cats and bears!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi) uses scent glands on its ears and shoulders, in addition to vocalizations, as part of its mating advertisements.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Many bats have sparkly poop! The crushed exoskeletons of digested insects can cause the guano to glimmer. This shiny scat makes great fertilizer for gardens.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Researchers can record and analyze echolocation calls to identify bat species. This task is complicated by the fact that many bats have regional accents!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
At least one species of bat, the Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis), will sometimes attempt to disrupt another bat's sonar to steal a meal.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The leaf noses on some bats may help them echolocate more effectively by channeling the ultrasounds generated in their larynx!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Greater Mouse-eared Bats use polarized light cues at sunset to set their internal compass to navigate! This renders bats the only mammal known so far to do this.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Vampire bats have special heat-sensing pits in their nose which they use to find where blood is closest to the surface.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Madagascar Sucker-footed Bat (Myzopoda aurita) doesn't use suction the way disc-winged bats do. Instead it uses wet adhesion similar to a tree frog to roost upright on smooth leaves.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
To avoid deafening themselves with their calls, many bats restrict the movement in their inner ear bones, called ossicles, by flexing the stapedius muscle while echolocating. We have these same bones and muscles in our ears and they are similarly used to dampen our own voices when we speak.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Pallid bats have a unique foraging pattern among North American bats. They fly low to the ground (about 15 to 76 centimeters), then dip and rise in swoops in order to grab ground-dwelling prey or slow-flying prey.9yr ⋅ Mrs_Holman_7 ⋅ r/BatFacts
Many migratory bats, such as the hoary bat, are negatively impacted by wind turbines.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
A single colony of 150 Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus) eats an estimated 1.3 million pest insects each year!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
At least 300 species of fruit rely on bats for pollination including bananas and mangos.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The largest of all Australian bats, the Black Flying Fox (Pteropus alecto) is considered an agricultural pest in some parts of Australia. They have a wingspan of over a meter.9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Although film vampires are sometimes depicted as using hollow fangs to suck blood, vampire bats actually use their tongue to lap up the blood from a wound.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Greater Bulldog Bat (Noctilio leporinus) is one of only a few bat species which hunts fish!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Black Mastiff Bat (Molossus rufus) can fly up to 250 miles in one night. They are one of the larger bats in the Western Hemisphere with a wingspan of 56 centimeters, though they only weigh about 70 grams.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Palla's Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga soricina) has the fastest metabolism of any mammal!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Hammer-headed fruit bat exhibits rather extreme sexual dimorphism with males (pictured) having a funky looking face they use to honk at lady bats. As few as 6% of the males may be responsible for 79% of the matings!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Greater Noctule Bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus), the largest bat in Europe, hunts migrating birds up to a third of its size!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Pale Spear-nosed Bat (Phyllostomus discolor) is known to have a complex vocal repertoire of some 20 types of calls, a similar number to many non-human primates!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
One of several bat species known to sing to win a mate, the Lesser Short-tailed Bat (Mystacina tuberculata) is the only native land mammal to New Zealand. There was another species of bat which has since gone extinct.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Spectacled Flying Fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) consumes the nectar and pollen of eucalyptus trees in addition to fruit.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Like other fruit bats in the Pteropodidae family, Woermann's bat (Megaloglossus woermanni) uses its large eyes to navigate in the dark.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
With a wingspan of two feet and weighing nearly 6oz, the Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas) is Australia's largest carnivorous bat!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
There are only three species of vampire bats. The White-winged Vampire Bat (Diaemus youngi) seems to prefer the blood of birds rather than mammals. The bats feed by hanging under perched birds and nip their toes with sharp teeth. When threatened, the bats hiss and spit a foul smelling liquid!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Bats seem to take off into the air by stretching out the tendons that anchor their bicep and tricep muscles to their bones. They then compress the tendons to release energy and power their flight upward.9yr ⋅ [deleted] ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Soprano Pipistelle is the most common bat in the UK. It was discovered to be distinct from the Common Pipistelle after scientists discovered that some bats were echolocating at a higher frequency, which prompted more investigation. They can eat 3000 insects nightly!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Tube-Lipped Nectar Bat (Anoura fistulata) has the longest tongue relative to body size of any mammal. Its tongue is 1.5x its body length!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Spix's disc-winged bat (Thyroptera tricolor) only roost in partially unfurled leaves. They may use the acoustic properties of these leaves in vocal communication.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Very little is known about the life of the Western Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla hesperia). From the few individuals (>10) captured, we've learned that they share adaptations like a long, grooved tongue with other nectar-eating bats.9yr ⋅ [deleted] ⋅ r/BatFacts
An evolutionary arms race between bats and moths has been waging for millions of years. Some moths, including the luna moth, have developed acoustic deflections on their wings. Bats get a mouthful of wings and the moths escape!9yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Despite its bright white coloration the Northern Ghost Bat (Diclidurus albus) is rarely seen. Scientists think this spooky bat may migrate seasonally.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Yellow-Winged Bat is monogamous. Mated pairs groom each other and cooperate to protect each other and their offspring. The female has a set of false nipples the pup uses to hold onto its mother while she flies!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Common Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus) has one of the largest brains for its size of any bat!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Up to sixty Tent-making Bats (Uroderma bilobatum) will use a tent at any one time. These tents may last as a two months.6yr ⋅ [deleted] ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Wrinkle-faced Bat (Centurio senex) is a peculiar looking bat. Its scientific name means 100-year old man. They have a bite force 20% higher than similarly sized bats in their family and may be able to exploit more types of fruit as a result.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The term echolocation was coined in 1944 by Donald Griffin, who was instrumental in its discovery. The pictured bat, Griffin's leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros griffini), is named in his honor several years after his death. It echolocates through its oddly shaped nose.9yr ⋅ [deleted] ⋅ r/BatFacts
Vampire Bats (Desmodus rotundus) are stealthy creatures. They often land a short distance away from their target and slowly creep up on it while it's asleep before making an incision.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Tent-making Bat (Uroderma bilobatum) builds its own shelters by chewing the veins of large leaves. Collapsing a frond in this way may take up to 80 bites! Up to sixty bats may share a leaf tent!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
In the world of poop, bat feces are known for being exceptional excrement and the potent poop was even used to manufacture gunpowder! Throughout the world, bats act as foundational species in cave ecosystems where their guano supports a rich trophic web.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
In the United States, fourteen bat species including the Tri-colored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus, pictured) have been documented living in artificial roosts. There are many different designs and building instructions to several types of bat houses are provided in the comments!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
While many bats do not form mated pair bonds, the Spectral Bats (Vampyrum spectrum) is 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.9yr ⋅ 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 innate 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 ⋅ [deleted] ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Little Red Flying Fox (Pteropus scapulatus) is occasionally eaten by crocodiles.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The ears of the brown long-eared bat are nearly as long as its body so it rolls them up or tucks them under a wing when resting!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis) migrates south in the fall. During the winter they can sometimes be found hollow trees or even in leaf litter!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
Bats are responsible for the pollination of agave, the plant from which we get tequila. Thanks, bats!10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Grey-headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) relies on sight and smell to find fruits and flowers to eat. They can live up to 23 years, but with predators like eagles, snakes, crocodiles, and humans, that might be a optimistic for this threatened species.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
The Christmas Island Pipistrelle has not been heard since 2009 and may be extinct.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
[Superb-Owl Sunday] In the New 52, Batman battles a secret society called the Court of Owls. Owls are common predators of bats worldwide.10yr ⋅ remotectrl ⋅ r/BatFacts
