Bats are the only flying mammals in the world. Bats can live more than 30 years and can fly at speeds of up to 60 mph. Most bats eat insects. They can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes an hour and often consume their body weight in insects every night, helping keep bug populations in check. Bats can find their food in total darkness. They locate insects by emitting inaudible high-pitched sounds.

Bats hang upside down because they can’t stand upright. This is due to the way they are built. They have a very small pelvic area. They hang upside down almost all of the time, including when they are socializing, drinking and even eating. If we hung upside down, gravity would make all of the blood rush to our heads. Not so in bats, because they don’t weigh enough for gravity to have any effect on the circulation of their blood.

Bats live in groups, and their usual habitat is inside caves, trees, or buildings. Bats are nocturnal, meaning that they sleep during the day and stay awake during the night. They don’t see very well so they have to rely on navigational methods other than sight. Bats send out beeps and listen for variations in the echoes that bounce back at them and that’s how they get around.

Bat Diagram

Summary Facts

Bat play a crucial role in the ecosystem. They keep the population of bugs and insects in control and even help with pollination.