The Bat Blog!

Let’s get batty for bats!

I personally like to call bats sky puppies because they are very adorable and vital to our ecosystem! We will discuss origin history, adaptations, modern research, conservation efforts, characteristics, myths, folklore, and superstitions surrounding these flying mammals.

 What is that? A plane, a bird, a really big moth?! No, It’s a bat!

Bats have long fascinated scientists and have had positive and negative symbolism for thousands of years among many cultures, religions, myths, and folktales. The earliest known bat fossil dates back to 52 million years ago. It’s believed that bats likely evolved from small, tree-dwelling mammals. These creatures comprise about 20% of all mammals on earth and consist of 1,400 known species. Bats are found from tropical locations to deserts, except in extreme polar regions. They can be as small as a bumble bee like the Kitti’s hog-nosed bat or as large as the fruit-eating Flying Fox whose wingspan can reach up to 6 feet wide! Bats are also widely known for being notoriously nocturnal (active at night). While that statement is true for most of their species but not all, this nocturnal characteristic helps them to evade competition with diurnal (daytime) mammals and reduces the risk of predation.

Winged Hand

Bats belong to the order Chiroptera. This word comes from the Greek word cheir – meaning hand, and the Greek word pteron- meaning wing. The two words together mean winged hand. This word explains the description of the bat wings because they have a unique structure compared to all other flying creatures. 

The wings on bats are essentially modified hands with elongated finger bones covered by a thin, flexible membrane of skin. This structure of their wing allows bats to take flight. Uniquely, these mammals are one of the smallest mammals capable of true flight – meaning they can fly alongside other primary groups like birds and insects. Animals suspected to have flying capabilities but can only glide from tree branch to branch would be animals like the gliding possum, the gliding lemur, or the flying squirrel.

Yum yum yum!

Bats hunt in different ways than most flying mammals. Not all bats hunt the same way – the most common hunting method used by 70% of all bat species is using echolocation. Echolocation is a unique adaptation (a trait that helps an animal survive in its environment) that assists bats in locating their prey (mainly bugs) in the darkness. Echolocation is when a bat produces a high-frequency sound and listens to the echoes that bounce back, helping them build a mental map of their surroundings. This adaptation helps distinguish bats from all other flying mammals. 

While Most bats use echolocation for hunting, not all use this adaptation. Some species of bats, like the fruit-eating bat – the Flying Fox, have good color vision to help them locate and choose fruit. That is a unique adaptation for this type of bat because usually, bats have very specialized eyesight that is very sensitive and helps them see in pitch black. So, most bats do not need to see in color because it’s unnecessary for their environment. 

Most bat species are primarily insectivores (eating mainly mosquitoes, moths, and beetles) or frugivores (eating fruit and nectar). Only a small proportion of bat species are carnivores who feed on small vertebrates like fish or smaller bats. Only three species are blood-sucking bats. 

The diverse diets among bat species are important since bats play a vital role in our ecosystem. Most will help by controlling the insect population, which can help reduce the spread of diseases and help with many other things. For example, Fruit-eating bats contribute to seed dispersal through their guano (bat sh*t) – which helps with forest regeneration! 

Threats to Bats

Bats face several threats in their environment as of today. These threats can be deforestation, habitat loss, climate change, pollution threats, disturbance of roosting sites, and the spread of fungal diseases like the White-Nose Syndrome. This disease has devastated some bat populations in northern America.

Conservation efforts are essential for protecting these unique creatures and their crucial roles in our ecosystem. These efforts are underway to promote and preserve bat populations worldwide. Modern scientific research in bat conservation has proved the significance of bats. Researchers have made substantial discoveries about bat behavior, ecology, echolocation, migration, and conservation efforts. Bats’ ecological importance, such as their role in pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control, has become increasingly recognized due to these efforts.

The good, the bad and the ugly.

Bats have held significant symbolic meanings in many cultures – positive and negative, depending on the cultural context and local beliefs. 

Here are some examples of positive views about bats:

• Chinese cultures believe bats are symbols of good luck, happiness, and fortune.
• In Mayan mythology, bats were considered messengers between the living and the dead. They also represented rebirth and change.
• Some Native American cultures believe bats are symbols of fertility and motherhood due to the nurturing behaviors of female bats.  
• In Japanese cultures, bats brought good luck and protected them from evil.
• In the Balinese culture, bats are sacred and associated with the deity Dewi Kunti – a symbol of motherhood and protection.
• In some African cultures, bats assist with intuition and provide insight.
• In Thai culture, bats are considered good fortune and associated with living long lives.

On the flip side of the positive interpretations of the symbolisms of bats, some cultures view bats as scary, bad omens, and are associated with fear and superstition.

Here are some examples:

• In Western cultures, some folklore believed that bats were associated with the vampire myth due to Vampire bats having nocturnal behavior, sharp teeth, and being associated with blood-sucking. 
• In some European folklore, people believed that bats were associated with witchcraft, darkness, and death. Some thought that bats flying near a home was an omen of bad luck or death.
• Greeks and Romans believed that bats were associated with darkness and the underworld.
• Medieval Christians believed bats were evil creatures of the darkness, associated with demons and the devil.
• Japanese folklore also associates bats with evil spirits and supernatural forces. This culture also associates bats with good luck and fortune.
• In Indonesia, bats represent disaster and death if they fly into someone’s home.

Bat Adaptations

Bats are a very diverse group of mammals with numerous unique species! Each species has various adaptations to suit its specific habitats, diets, and lifestyles.

Here are some notable adaptations:

1. Insect-eating bats (Microchiroptera) – These bats primarily use echolocation and have sharp teeth for capturing and consuming insects like mosquitoes, moths, and beetles.
2. Fruit bats (Megachiroptera) – Fruit bats are the larger size of bats. The most commonly known fruit bat is the Flying Fox. These bats have the adaptation for having long wingspans that allow them to fly for longer distances, aiding in foraging for fruits and nectar.
3. Vampire bats (Desmodontinae) – Vampire bats have the adaptation for feeding on blood. They have little heat sensors that help their nose locate blood vessels beneath the skin of their prey. Naturally, they have razor-sharp incisors for making tiny incisions on their prey’s skin to access the blood. Delicious! 
4. Leaf-Nosed Bats (Phyllostomidae) – Leaf-nosed bats have very distinctive leaf-like noses. These structures help them focus on their echolocation calls and could help direct their sound waves.
5. Bulldog Bats (Noctilionidae) – Bulldog bats are fish-eating bats with sharp teeth and claws to help consume fish. These are the only bats that consume aquatic prey.
6. Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophidae) – These bats have a nose leaf structure to their nose like Leaf-nosed bats, which also helps them with echolocation. They have a very distinctive horseshoe-shaped nose that makes their appearance unique.
7. Tube-Nosed Bats (Nycteridae) – Tube-nosed bats have an elongated, tubular extension on their noses, which may assist in their echolocation abilities and help direct their calls more efficiently.
8. Sucker-Footed Bats (Myzopodidae) – These bats have unique sucker pads on their feet that cling to smooth surfaces like leaves, making roosting in foliage an option!

Myths and Misconceptions About Bats

Throughout history, bats have been and still are misunderstood creatures. That is often due to common misconceptions and superstitions about their mysterious nature and nocturnal habits. 

Let’s debunk some of these real quick!

• Bats are blind – this is one of the most common myths about bats! However, most bat species can see quite well! Some species do rely more heavily on echolocation than eyesight than others, however. Some can see in color to help locate fruit. Other bats primarily have super sensitive vision to help them see in pitch black darkness.
• Bats are blind as mice – bats and mice are different animals and belong to their own orders. Both have their own distinctive characteristics, behaviors, and evolutionary histories. 
• Bats are aggressive – bats are not aggressive. Bats do not attack humans either and are very shy in nature. These creatures would prefer to avoid human contact at all. In rare cases, if the bat feels threatened, it may bite. 
• Bats drink blood – only 3 out of 1,400 species are blood-eating bats that primarily feed off livestock. They rarely, if ever, feed on humans. These are commonly known as Vampire bats.
• Bats are flying rodents – bats belong to the order Chiroptera, not Rodentia (rodents). These are the only mammals capable of true flight – thanks to their unique wing structure that allows them to fly alongside birds.
• Bats get tangled in your hair – bats are highly skilled flyers with sophisticated echolocation skills. Having these skills would prevent them from coming into contact with humans altogether. Therefore, bats will not get tangled in human hair.
• Bats carry rabies – the vast majority of bats do not carry rabies. While some bats can carry rabies-like all other mammals, they are not rabid animals. Transmission of this disease can be avoided by not having direct contact with bats altogether.
• Bats are disease-ridden – like all mammals, bats can carry certain diseases but are not “dirty” animals. They actually maintain good grooming habits like possums and rats do.
• Bats are only nocturnal – most bats are nocturnal. However, not all bats are exclusively active at night. Some species of bats, like the Crepuscular bats, are most active during twilight, and others are active during the day.
• Bats are pests – bats are essential to our ecosystem as pollinators, seed dispersers, and natural insect controllers. They play a very crucial role in the biodiversity and ecosystem of our world. Like Opossums, spiders, and other creatures that can often be mistaken for pests, they are all helpful and crucial to the ecosystem.
• COVID-19 came from bats – Bats can host a variety of coronaviruses as well as many other diseases. Based on scientific studies by NCBI, it’s believed that the COVID-19 variant likely involved an intermediate host. An intermediate host means that the host could have been another animal species that came into contact with the bats and then transmitted the virus to humans. This intermediate host is likely the pangolin. It’s important to note that while bats can carry this virus, they are ecologically valuable animals that help maintain our ecosystem. Not all bats have harmful viruses and should never be demonized based on their association with specific diseases. 

Through education and information, it is crucial to understand that cultural beliefs can vary within society and are complex and evolve. With increased awareness of bats and their ecological roles, cultural perceptions of bats can change over time. As science continues to research and strive to understand bats and their positive contributions to the world, there will be fewer misconceptions. 

For a batty experience, I highly recommend the Bracken Cave Preserve (Bat Conservation International Inc.) in San Antonio, Texas! 

For a batty podcast, I highly recommend Ologies with Alie Ward – Chiropterology Part 1 & 2 with Merlin Tuttle.