Wildlife Facts Bats belong to the order of mammals called Chiroptera, meaning “hand-wing”. They are among the most diverse and geographically dispersed kinds of mammals, making up about a quarter of all mammal species in the world. They are the only group of mammals to achieve true flight. They are small and furry nocturnal animals, coming out at night. They have excellent eyesight. They have also developed echolocation or sonar to orient themselves in the environment and find prey. Just like with whales and dolphins, bats produce pulses of high-pitched sound and navigate by listening for the echoes. Bats that rely heavily on sonar are those species that feed primarily on insects. They often have large ears, which are unbelievably sensitive. How many kinds are there? There are almost 1000 species of bats all over the world. There are 70 species known to exist in the Philippine islands. And an unusually high number of them, 22 species, are endemic (occur ONLY the Philippines and nowhere else in the world). What kind of bats do we have on display? Our bats are a species named Pteropys vampyrus, also known as the Giant fruit bat. The common name of flying fox comes from their resemblance to the facial feature of a fox or dog. But they are not foxes at all! The Golden-crowned Flying Fox is the LARGEST bat in the world! They weigh up to 2 ½ lbs and have a wingspan of up to 6 feet. These bats came to our rescue center when the local Ecology Center confiscated them from a small cage at a local restaurant. The restaurant personnel picked them up as babies, near the area, after a typhoon. Upon arrival, one of them had an injured leg. They were deemed unreleasable due this injury, the fact that they were in captivity as babies and because they have become quite tame. The two bats are male (see the genitalia!). What special adaptations do they have? The wings of the bats are more similar to our hands than to the wings of birds. They have 4 fingers and a thumb like us. However they are elongated and have a thin elastic skin between them that makes up the wing web. When they fly they move their wings in a circular motion. Where do they live? Bats may roost in trees or may inhabit caves, buildings, or any structure that provides an overhang. They are social animals, often roosting together in large groups that can reach up to the thousands. Species that live in cold regions may migrate to warmer climates when winter comes. What do they eat? Different kinds of bats eat different things, such as insects, fruits, plants, frogs, fish, rodents and even other bats. The Golden-crowned Flying Fox is a fruit eater and nectar feeder. In the wild they feed on fruits, flowers, nectar, pollen and leaves. In captivity, they are fed a wide variety of fruits and natural vegetation. How long do they live? They live about 15 to 20 years. But this species can live up to 30 years. Why do they hang upside down? Bats hang naturally and very comfortably using their feet. In fact, the toes that cling tightly to branches are in a relaxed state. It is when they straighten their toes to let go that they need to use muscles. To start flying they need the momentum of falling, explaining why they prefer to hang upside down. This requires little energy on their part. How do they care for their young? Females have a gestation period of about 180 days. As mammals, bats give birth to a single pup (twins on rare occasions) and provide milk from their mammary glands. The young are usually born naked and helpless, with small and undeveloped wings, but grow rapidly and soon can fly and forage on their own. Is it a boy or girl? Sex can be determined by examining external genitalia. Males have a conspicuous penis. The nipples of adult females are more prominent than those of the males. How can we protect them? Many bat species are threatened, mainly due to hunting and habitat destruction. Of the 94% of land area once covered by forest in the Philippines, less than 20% remain. Many species, especially endemic ones, depend primarily on this forest. Bats are crucial to us and the environment because of many things: insect-eating bats help control bug population, like mosquitos; fruit-eating bats disperse seeds that they eat which is critical to forest regeneration; and nectar-eating bats help pollinate plants. We can help by learning more about them, stopping the trade in bats for food, and preserving their habitat. Some Common Misconceptions About Bats Do bats carry rabies? It is a misconception that most bats are rabid. Less than 1% of bats contract rabies, a number seen similarly in many other animals. Like other animals, rabid bats die quickly. Unlike other animals such as cats and dogs, rabid bats seldom become aggressive. They are docile and gentle animals by nature. Do they drink blood? This is another incorrect myth. Of the nearly 1000 species, only 3 species drink blood. Two of these species are extremely rare, and the third, the common vampire bat, normally only drink the blood of mammals such as cattle and horses. Vampire bats are also very small. An adult is the size of a large thumb and has a wingspan of only 8 inches. They are only found in Central and South America. Are they blind? Unlike the expression “blind as a bat”, bats are not blind! They have eyes just like humans and can see, even in the dark. However they do use echolocation as a more effective tool to navigate and find food, especially at night. Golden-crowned Flying Foxes, as compared to other bats, have excellent eyesight. What are Bats?
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