There are more than 1,300 species of bats spread over six continents , where Indonesia is home to 219 species of bats, more than any other country. They are so numerous that they represent one-fifth of the mammalian population on Earth, according to Bat Conservation International.
They are exceptional animals despite the large number of myths and legends that have accompanied them over the centuries, considering them, above all, carriers of terrifying diseases and nocturnal bloodsuckers. However, this misunderstood animal is responsible for the dissemination of seeds, killing many harmful insects (they are ideal for pest control) and helping to pollinate plants in general. It is something that we should not forget: they are fundamental pollinators, since a large number of fruits and vegetables depend on the help of these animals . And, as a reminder, bats carry fewer infectious diseases than rodents.
Bats are divided into two main types: megabats ( Pteropodidae ) and microbats ( Microchiroptera ). The former include flying foxes and Old World fruit bats. They tend to be larger than microbats, although some microbats are actually larger than smaller megabats.
Did you know that it is the only mammal that can fly?
Bats live almost everywhere , except for some islands, and the Arctic and Antarctic. They prefer warmer areas that are closer to the equator, and we can locate them in rain forests, mountains, farmland, forests and also in cities.
You may know that they don’t have a lot of body fat to keep them warm, but instead they have two strategies to resist the cold. Some bats migrate to warmer areas, while others go into a kind of short-term hibernation called torpor. During this phase, the bat reduces its metabolic rate, lowers its body temperature, and slows its respiration and heart rate.
Unfortunately, some species are at risk of extinction due to problems such as habitat loss. Extending as much reliable information as possible about bats and how important they are to our ecosystems is vital. So today we do just this, telling you fascinating trivia about bats.
