Curious ElfBats are cute, fuzzy mammals that live in caves and forests worldwide, where they can avoid predators like birds or snakes. At night time, they come out to eat insects that help pollinate plants for us! They can be found on every continent except for Antarctica. With wingspans of up to six feet, they can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour!
You may not know it, but the bat is one of the most intelligent animals around. They can use echolocation to find food and even understand how humans feel with their sense of humor. Bats are also one of the most diverse animals, with more than 1200 species, and some of the bats can even hover! This guide will discuss eight fascinating facts about bats that you would have no idea about.
Let’s look at these facts.
Bats live longer than 30 years
Bats as a species can live up to 30 years. Some species, such as the giant golden-crowned flying fox bat, can have an even longer life span at almost 40 years. A bat’s life span depends on its species; some bats have been known to live up to 40 years in captivity, depending on where it lives.
They can fly at a speed of 60 miles per hour
A bat can fly at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, and they can get into tight spaces where other birds cannot go. This is how bats catch insects for their dinner! Bats have wingspans that range from six inches up to five feet wide, depending on the species.
More than half of the bat species in US are said to be endangered
Bats are not doing well, and out of the 1200 species in existence, about 500 are endangered. The Endangered Species Act protects bats from any more harm being done to their habitats or population numbers. However, some human activities, such as logging (which destroys trees which means fewer insects for bats), have become scarce.
Pollution is also becoming an increasing problem with chemicals and pesticides that kill off food sources for these cute mammals.
Bats can easily find their food in darkness
Bats are nocturnal creatures which means they come out to hunt for food at night. Their sonar waves allow them to see their world differently because it bounces off objects and gives the bat information about where everything is located around them. This sense of humor that bats possess allows them to find all sorts of prey, including insects, fish, or even small mammals!
Bat droppings, known as guano, is one of the richest fertilizers in the world
If you see a cave that’s filled with bat droppings, it means bats are living in that cavern. These guano deposits also serve as an essential food source for other animals like ants and beetles; however, they can be dangerous if not taken care of properly. This fertilizer attracts fungus spores which cause diseases to grow!
Some bats hibernate in caves during winters
Bats can survive winter by hibernating in caves. They can make their way into the depths of these natural structures and stay there for months at a time, even though they have been known to wake up during times when it’s warm outside. To hibernate and stay warm, bats rely heavily on their fat stores.
The bracken bat cave in texas is home to the world’s largest bat colony
The Bracken Bat Cave is home to the world’s largest bat colony. It supports more than 20 million bats, and they are so numerous that all of these animals would weigh over 1200 pounds!
“Flying Fox” is world’s largest bat which lives in the south pacific island
Flying foxes are the world’s largest bat species, and they live most abundantly in Australia and on islands in the South Pacific. They have an average wingspan of almost five feet, which is more comprehensive than many birds! The flying fox feeds mainly on nectar and fruit, but it will eat insects if necessary; many different types of animals can be found from one tree thanks to this creature.
We hope that this guide has helped you understand how fascinating and misunderstood these creatures of the night are.
