Bat Scientific Name: Habitat, Diet, Ecology, Classification, Facts and FAQs

Bats are mammals that belong to the order Chiroptera. They are the mammals capable of true and sustained flight because of their specially adapted forelimbs that form the wings. They are found everywhere, ranging from tropical rainforests to urban cities. There are over 1400 known species of bats.

Depending on the species, bats generally feed on insects, fruit, nectar, small animals, or even blood. They play important ecological roles in pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal. Bats utilise an echolocation process, a biological sonar system, to travel and hunt in the darkness. Bats are an important topic in the field of biology.

This Story also Contains

1. Bat Scientific Name
2. Taxonomic Classification of Bats
3. Bat sound names
4. Bat Habitat, Diet and Ecology
5. How does a bat fly?
6. How long do they live?
7. What do they eat?

Bat Scientific Name

Bats are of the order Chiroptera, that includes the two main suborders: Megachiroptera (large fruit bats) and Microchiroptera (small insectivorous bats). As there are many species of bats, they do not have a single scientific name. Example- the scientific name of the common little brown bat is Myotis lucifugus.

Also Read

• Animal Kingdom

• Phylum Mollusca

• Mammalia

Taxonomic Classification of Bats

The order Chiroptera, derived from the Latin "chiro", which means hand, and the Greek "pteron", which means wing, currently consists of 18 families, approximately 174 genera, and over 900 species. Chiropterans are classified into two suborders: Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera.

Bat sound names

Most bats utilise their vocal cords and larynx to generate calls during echolocation, similar to how humans use their voice box and larynx to talk. Different bat species have different calls, but in general, bat sounds are referred to as "clicks." When these noises are slowed down, they sound more like a bird chirp and have markedly different tones.

Bat Habitat, Diet and Ecology

Except for Antarctica, bats can be found on practically every continent. The majority of bats are insectivores; however, some are nectarivores or frugivores. However, other species, such as vampire bats, only feed on blood. Bats are very important in ecology since they help with pollination and seed dissemination. Many tropical plants are completely dependent on bats for these processes. Bats are also useful to people because they reduce bug infestations. Their faeces is also quite useful as a fertiliser. Bats, on the other hand, carry a variety of diseases and can be a source of concern in densely inhabited places.

How does a bat fly?

Bats are one-of-a-kind creatures. Despite sharing many traits with other mammals, including fur, regulated body temperature, and the capacity to carry and nurse their young alive, bats are the only animals that can genuinely fly. Although "flying!" squirrels and "flying!" lemurs use a furred membrane to glide or parachute, only bats have the structural adaptations that allow for full-powered flight.

How long do they live?

Mortality is high among immature bats. Some fall through the top of their shelter and are unable to return; others die of disease or parasites. They do, however, proliferate and can fly in about three weeks. Once the dangers of adolescence are passed, bats can live to be quite old, with some reaching the age of 20 and, in one documented example, 30. They certainly outlive other mammals of comparable size, such as rats, which live barely one or two years.

What do they eat?

A few bat species are carnivorous, devouring tiny frogs, reptiles, and birds. Other species are noted for their fish-eating habits and are distinguished by their rear feet and claws. The fishing bulldog bat, Noctilio leporinus, of Central and South America is the most well-known of the fish-eating bats. The exact mechanism by which this bat gets its prey is unknown, although many experts assume that sonar is used to detect ripples in the water caused by the fish. In a matter of seconds, it catches its victim with enormous hooked claws, spears it with its canine teeth, gathers it in the wing’s membrane, bites through the head, and eats it.

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