BAT’SBAT’S

THE THE KING OF THE KING OF THE NIGHTNIGHT

CHRISTINECHRISTINE

Basic information:Basic information: These creatures are probably the most misunderstood Creatures in the world. These creatures are probably the most misunderstood Creatures in the world.

They come out while we sleep and are black in their roots long before we They come out while we sleep and are black in their roots long before we are up and about in the morning. are up and about in the morning.

People still believe that bats will get tangled in long hair and will need People still believe that bats will get tangled in long hair and will need Hospital treatment to remove them.Hospital treatment to remove them.

In Africa tribes believe that bats bring bad omens while in china bats bring In Africa tribes believe that bats bring bad omens while in china bats bring good luck and can be seen embroidered on the Gowns of emperors.good luck and can be seen embroidered on the Gowns of emperors.

Bats belong to a family called CHIROPTERA ,which means” hand wing” Bats belong to a family called CHIROPTERA ,which means” hand wing” in Greek.in Greek.

They are only mammals that are capable of true flight.They are only mammals that are capable of true flight. The wing of a bat is very similar to our hand except that its fingers are The wing of a bat is very similar to our hand except that its fingers are

elongated.elongated. There are almost 1000 species of bats ,half of all known mammals in the There are almost 1000 species of bats ,half of all known mammals in the

world world

Adaptation:Adaptation: A A batbat is a is a mammalmammal in the in the orderorder ChiropteraChiroptera. Their most distinguishing . Their most distinguishing

feature is that their forelimbs are developed as feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wingswings, making them the , making them the only mammals in the world naturally capable of only mammals in the world naturally capable of flightflight (though other (though other mammals, such as mammals, such as flying squirrelsflying squirrels, gliding , gliding flying possumsflying possums and and colugoscolugos, , can can glideglide for limited distances). The word Chiroptera comes from the for limited distances). The word Chiroptera comes from the GreekGreek words cheir "hand" and pteron "wing," as the structure of the open words cheir "hand" and pteron "wing," as the structure of the open wing is very similar to an outspread human hand with a wing is very similar to an outspread human hand with a membranemembrane ( (patagiumpatagium) between the fingers that also stretches between hand and body.) between the fingers that also stretches between hand and body.

A measure of the success of bats is their estimated total of about 1,100 A measure of the success of bats is their estimated total of about 1,100 speciesspecies of bats worldwide, accounting for about 20 percent of all mammal of bats worldwide, accounting for about 20 percent of all mammal species.species.[1][1] About 70 percent of bats are About 70 percent of bats are insectivoresinsectivores. Most of the rest are . Most of the rest are fructivores, with a few species being carnivorous. Bats are present fructivores, with a few species being carnivorous. Bats are present throughout most of the world.throughout most of the world.

Bats perform a vital ecological role by Bats perform a vital ecological role by pollinatingpollinating some flowers, and also some flowers, and also have an important role in seed dispersal; indeed, many tropical plants are have an important role in seed dispersal; indeed, many tropical plants are totally dependent on bats. This role explains environmental concerns when totally dependent on bats. This role explains environmental concerns when a bat is introduced in a new setting.[clarify] Tenerife provides a recent a bat is introduced in a new setting.[clarify] Tenerife provides a recent example with the introduction of the Egyptian fruit batexample with the introduction of the Egyptian fruit bat

Ancestors or Living Ancestors or Living Relative:Relative:

The ancestors to bats were *NOT* pterodactyls. And the bat didn't "become" a The ancestors to bats were *NOT* pterodactyls. And the bat didn't "become" a mammal ... they always *were* mammals ... bats evolved from non-flying mammal mammal ... they always *were* mammals ... bats evolved from non-flying mammal ancestors.ancestors.

As evidence, the bone structure of the bat's wing is *much* closer ... bone for As evidence, the bone structure of the bat's wing is *much* closer ... bone for bone ... to the front leg and paw of a mouse (or for that matter that of any mammal, bone ... to the front leg and paw of a mouse (or for that matter that of any mammal, such a a human's arm and hand), than they are to the bone structure of a such a a human's arm and hand), than they are to the bone structure of a pterodactyl's wingspterodactyl's wings..

Bats didn't evolve from Pterosaurs. Nothing did as far as I know. They came from Bats didn't evolve from Pterosaurs. Nothing did as far as I know. They came from mammalian lineage which started with cynodonts after the KT event. mammalian lineage which started with cynodonts after the KT event.

As someone already stated previously, their wing structure as well as their bone As someone already stated previously, their wing structure as well as their bone structure is very different.structure is very different.

They also have mammalian features, which someone else stated. That is They also have mammalian features, which someone else stated. That is endothermic, hair or fur, mammary glands, three middle ear bones, and a endothermic, hair or fur, mammary glands, three middle ear bones, and a neocortex. There are several other characteristics as well, but these are the most neocortex. There are several other characteristics as well, but these are the most important important

Habitat:Habitat:

Caves are an important bat habitat. Not all bats need caves Caves are an important bat habitat. Not all bats need caves (many roost in trees or buildings) but some depend on caves (many roost in trees or buildings) but some depend on caves with just the right conditions to survive. Bats are particular. with just the right conditions to survive. Bats are particular. Only 5% of North American caves have the correct conditions Only 5% of North American caves have the correct conditions for bats. Many bats return to the same cave for their entire for bats. Many bats return to the same cave for their entire lives. Bats are the most gregarious and social of all mammals. lives. Bats are the most gregarious and social of all mammals. Bats roost in colonies of several hundred to tens of millions. Bats roost in colonies of several hundred to tens of millions. Some raise young in large colonies in warm caves in summer. Some raise young in large colonies in warm caves in summer. Some hibernate in cooler caves over the winter. Many roost in Some hibernate in cooler caves over the winter. Many roost in caves during the day to sleepcaves during the day to sleep

Food chain:Food chain: When food energy moves from the sun to a plant, to an animal, to another When food energy moves from the sun to a plant, to an animal, to another

animal, that is a food chain. The fact that animals live in caves at all, animal, that is a food chain. The fact that animals live in caves at all, proves that caves are not isolated from the surface. On the surface, all food proves that caves are not isolated from the surface. On the surface, all food chains start with green plants, which make food from sunlight. In a dark chains start with green plants, which make food from sunlight. In a dark cave, there is no sunlight and no green plants. Thus, all food for the cave, there is no sunlight and no green plants. Thus, all food for the animals must come from outside, on the surface.animals must come from outside, on the surface.

Food moves into the cave in two ways: it is washed in, or it is carried in by Food moves into the cave in two ways: it is washed in, or it is carried in by animals. Organic debris, such as leaves, sticks, dead animals and even logs animals. Organic debris, such as leaves, sticks, dead animals and even logs can get washed down sinkholes or into cave entrances by flooding or can get washed down sinkholes or into cave entrances by flooding or heavy rains. The water that enters the cave every day, even without a flood heavy rains. The water that enters the cave every day, even without a flood or rain, may look clear, but it contains much dissolved organic matteror rain, may look clear, but it contains much dissolved organic matter

Much of the food inside a cave is carried in by bats. Bats are mammals, and all of Missouri's bats eat insects. There are many fantastic tales about bats, and almost all of them are false. They are not aggressive and bite only in self-defense, just like any other wild animal. Our own pets are more dangerous and carry more diseases than bats do. Although bats can see very well, it is their echolocation that makes them special. Bats give out ultrasonic calls, which are too highly pitched for people to hear. By listening for the echoes of these calls, bats are able to find insects in the dark and to fly through dark caves. Thus, bats are one of the few predators on night flying insects, such as mosquitoes. Bats are important in the balance of nature both above and below ground

Much of the food inside a cave is carried in by bats. Bats are mammals, and all of Missouri's bats eat insects. There are many fantastic tales about bats, and almost all of them are false. They are not aggressive and bite only in self-defense, just like any other wild animal. Our own pets are more dangerous and carry more diseases than bats do. Although bats can see very well, it is their echolocation that makes them special. Bats give out ultrasonic calls, which are too highly pitched for people to hear. By listening for the echoes of these calls, bats are able to find insects in the dark and to fly through dark caves. Thus, bats are one of the few predators on night flying insects, such as mosquitoes. Bats are important in the balance of nature both above and below ground