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Fascinating night creatures: Bats, along with flying foxes, are the only mammals capable of flight.
Despite being labelled as “bloodsuckers” or “disease carriers,” there are many opinions about bats. But which claims are true and what makes these flying creatures so special? Find all the information right here.
Appearance: What Are the External Features of a Bat?
Bats are truly one-of-a-kind amongst mammals in terms of their appearance. Typical of these night fliers are their large pointy ears and sharp canine teeth.
Their wing membrane also sets bats apart: aside from flying foxes, bats are the only mammals that can fly.
Their fur is usually brownish or black, with a lighter underbelly than their back.
How Big Do Bats Get?
The ultimate size of bats depends on the species.
The world’s smallest known bat species is the bumblebee bat, measuring just three centimetres in length and a mere two grams in weight.
In contrast, the spectral bat is considered the largest species, with body lengths of 14 centimetres and weighing around 200 grams.
Sex: Female or Male?
For laypeople, it’s pretty tricky to distinguish male from female bats at first glance. However, there are a few characteristics that can indicate the sex:
Females have mammary glands situated more laterally in the armpit region and are usually larger than males
Males have a penis that does not retract into the body
What Bat Species Are There?
Bats inhabit almost the entire world. Currently, just under a thousand different species are known – about 13 percent of all known mammal species. Due to the numerous species, biologists divide these creatures into seven superfamilies.
Particularly well-known are the bulldog bats, the smooth-nosed, and the horseshoe bats.
The Large Noctule (Nyctalus noctula) is a well-known species of bat found throughout Europe.
Behaviour: Nocturnal Super-Hunters
Bats are typically active at night, searching for food. During the day, they retreat to abandoned caves or crevices. Attics or abandoned barns also often serve as havens for bats.
Lone Ranger or Social Butterfly?
Whether these aviation enthusiasts are solitary or prefer living in groups varies with the species. However, one behaviour is common to all: They hibernate. During this time, they slow down their metabolism to conserve energy during the cold months.
The Superpower: Echolocation
Bats are outstanding air hunters, thanks primarily to their echolocation system. They emit ultrasonic waves that objects reflect differently due to their varying sizes and structures.
This ability allows them to navigate in the dark despite their poor eyesight.
Did you know: The ultrasonic waves produced by bats are in the high-frequency range and thus inaudible to humans.
The Ultimate Hearing
Although bats have poor eyesight, their ears are incredibly sensitive and vital for hunting. It’s with these that they detect the echoed sounds returned by their echolocation, allowing bats to then gauge the size and distance of prey.
The Upside-Down Sleep
The sleeping habits of bats are also typical of the species. Instead of lying down like many other mammals, they hang upside down from cave ceilings. This is possible because their feet point backwards.
What’s unique is the locking mechanism in their feet. When hanging upside down, their claws automatically curl due to their body weight, enabling the noctule to cling on and sleep simultaneously.
Diet: What Do Bats Eat in the Wild?
Many bats primarily feed on insects. When foraging at night, they can consume several thousand insects. The bat diet mainly consists of mosquitoes and spiders.
However, some species also eat small vertebrates, while others prefer nectar and fruit.
Do Bats Drink Blood?
Society often views bats as dangerous bloodsuckers, reinforced by vampire tales.
However, this is accurate for only three species living in Central and South America. The so-called true vampire bats (Desmodontinae) do feed on cow blood, but they only consume it in small quantities.
A bite is comparable to a mosquito bite since the bat also releases a type of natural anaesthetic.
Health: How Long Do Bats Live?
Bats can live to an impressive age of up to 30 years. However, how long a bat actually lives depends on various factors, such as the species or habitat.
A Potential Disease Carrier
As adorable as a bat may seem, a bite poses a danger to humans. Aside from the painful wound, bats can also transmit pathogens that could be life-threatening to you.
For example, blood-sucking and insect-eating bats are known carriers of the rabies virus. Although the risk in European regions is low, it is higher on other continents, such as America.
Reproduction: Mating, Hibernation, Fertilisation
During the mating season, males bite females on the neck to express interest. However, during mating, the eggs are not yet fertilised because hibernation follows – the actual fertilisation takes place in the spring.
How Long is the Gestation Period?
The gestation period for bats lasts approximately 40 to 70 days. Besides species, food availability also influences the duration of this period.
How Many Offspring Are Born per Litter?
Typically, a bat mother gives birth to just one pup per litter. The mothers then jointly care for their young for about six to eight weeks in what is called the ‘maternity roost’, and after this period, they are ready to fly.
Origin: What Is the Natural Habitat of a Bat?
Bats occupy a large part of the Earth. Only a few regions, such as the Arctic or Antarctica, are uninhabited by bats.
In terms of lifestyle, bats can be divided into tree-dwellers and building-dwellers. Thus, while some species are more likely to be found in urban areas, others prefer woods or gardens.
Are Bats Endangered?
Unfortunately, many bat species are currently threatened with extinction, with human activity being the primary cause.
For example, bats are losing their habitat due to deforestation and increasing urbanisation. Intensive agriculture also contributes to the decline in bat populations due to pesticides and insecticides.
Bats are nocturnal creatures, spending their day tucked away in hiding places. A characteristic trait of these mammals is also their habit of sleeping upside down.
Keeping as a Pet: Can I Keep a Bat as a Pet?
No. Bats are wild animals and are therefore under strict conservation in most regions. For example, in Germany, according to § 44 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), humans must not hunt or kill them.
Bats Belong in the Wild
Keeping bats as pets is certainly not species-appropriate. Only in the wild can bats live a life that meets their needs.
They even play an essential role by eating insects, contributing significantly to the balance of nature.
The Exception: Grounded Bats Need Help
It is not allowed to remove a bat from its natural habitat. The only exception allows for the temporary removal of the wild animals if they are injured or lying still on the ground.
In this case, you should immediately inform a knowledgeable expert who can instruct you on handling and further steps.
Note: Only touch the bat with gloves and secure its wings (e.g., with a towel). A bite carries a significant risk of infection for you!
Bat Profile
Name:
Bat (Microchiroptera)
Size:
three to 14 centimetres
Weight:
two to 200 grams
Lifespan:
up to 30 years
Hibernation:
yes
Diurnal Rhythm:
nocturnal
Diet:
mainly insects; some species also eat small vertebrates, fruits, nectar or blood
Distribution:
worldwide
Keeping as a Pet:
prohibited due to conservation reasons
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The products featured have been carefully selected by our editorial staff and are available at the zooplus online pet shop. The selection does not constitute advertising for the mentioned brands.
Franziska G., Veterinarian
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene.
Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future.
Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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