The bat

The bat (common pipistrelle) is a mammal that belongs to the order Chiroptera (kheir=hand and pteron=wing). Bats live all over the world, except the sea and the polar regions. Bats that live in cold climates hibernate in winter in dry and cool places.
The Mexican free-tailed bat migrates. In Romania live about 30 species out of the 1,100 that are currently known. Our largest bat (nyctalus noctula) begins to fly just before sunset, competing with birds.
If we take into account that they are insectivorous mammals (they can eat even 10 kilograms of mosquitoes during a lifetime), then we understand that bats are useful animals. But few people know that they are protected by law not only in our country, but also throughout Europe.
In Romania there is even an NGO specialized in protecting bats.
Feeding Bat
Most of them live in tropical forests and eat leaves and fruits. Smaller bats, called microliliacs, are much smaller and eat mainly insects, which they hunt in flight.
The species in our country feed on insects, but there are species that eat fruit, pollen, nectar or even carnivorous species (that feed on amphibians, lizards, birds, mice and even other smaller bats).
At least three species of bats also eat small fish, which they catch by flying over the water with their hind limbs in the water. The association with vampires is due to some species in South America that feed on blood (for example, Desmodus rotundus).
It attacks, especially at night, animals and, less often, people, to whom it causes wounds and sucks their blood.
Lilac Appearance
Their bodies are covered with thick, dark fur. The head, relatively small in relation to the body, has small eyes, a wide mouth and ears with large pavalions with internal folds. Around the nostrils have curious integumentary folds.
The skeleton of the bat is light, made up of thin bones, and the chest bone has a small hull (bone found only in birds) to which the chest muscles are attached, well developed. The limbs end with 5 fingers each. The first finger of the forelimbs is free.
Between the next 4 fingers of the forelimbs, hind limbs and tail stretches a membrane called patagium, with which you can fly. The claws of the hind limbs, well developed, are curved and serve to passively hook. Besides, this is how they rest, wrapping themselves in large colonies, crammed into each other, to keep warm.
Smell, hearing and touch are very well developed. The larynx emits ultrasound projected onto the nose or mouth, which is reflected by surrounding objects and then captured by the ear flag. This way it can orient itself very well at night, even if the sense of sight is poorly developed. The phenomenon is called echolation.
Bats form two main groups, depending on size. Frugivorous bats are large, called flying foxes because they have a figure that resembles a Fox. Micro bats look like mice with wings. Some feed in a special way.
Fish bats, from South America, catch fish with their claws. Vampire bats in Central and South America feed on the blood of cattle and horses, very rarely on human blood.
The great brown bat of North America gives birth to twins, unlike other bats, which only give birth to one cub.
The Rat Bat, Kitti, is the smallest mammal in the world. He was first seen in 1974.
Free-tailed bats have a tail that extends beyond the wing membrane. These bats can fly high and fast.
Horseshoe bats have skin folds around their noses to direct sound during hunting.
The frugivorous bat, Rodriguez, lives on an island in the Indian Ocean. His shelter in the Woods is now completely gone.
Bat Behavior
Most bats can see in the dark, but microliths also use echolocation to find their way. They emit very sharp sounds (ultrasound) – with a frequency of 500 Hz per second. The waves of these sounds "hit" objects or animals, producing echoes. The bat can tell exactly, by these echoes, where its prey is. Most bats are nocturnal (active at night).
Due to their sensitivity to pollution and diverse nutrition, bats are considered ecological indicators. In an article published in December 2011, it is shown that, in the galleries of Rosia Montana and in the village, compared to the 9 species of bats previously known in Rosia Montana were identified other 3 new species (Rhinolophus hipposideros, M. Brandtii and Pipistrellus.
The large number of bat species confirmed in Rosia Montana: 12, compared to 34 in Romania or 45 in Europe is an indicator for biodiversity.
Apart from an unjustified fear, I do no harm to man. The only thing most people know is that if they get caught in your hair, you can only take them off with scissors. There seems to be some truth here.
When the hair is left loose, the ultrasound no longer hits it like a compact body, passes through it and does not return to the bat's ear so that it realizes that there is something there and then enters like a net.
In Italy, bats began to be sold as pets, but also as mosquito exterminators. In the major supermarkets in Italy, 12,000 bats were sold at the price of 27 euros apiece, in special cages arranged for them, in the summer of 2010.
In fact, their sale was conceived as part of a project to save them. And they also bring benefits, as they say they deserve the money. "A single specimen eats at least 10,000 insects per night, of which 2,000 are mosquitoes," explains zoologist Paolo Agnelli. And besides, he is harmless to humans, does not attack and is also very shy.
- "Ugly? You're kidding!! With those big ears and eyes they're really cute,” said the zoologist.
Lilac Reproduction
Mating takes place in autumn, and in spring the female gives birth to 1-2 naked Cubs, with glued eyelids, with little developed limbs.
The chicks stay attached to the mother's body for a while, then, when the wings develop, they begin to fly, returning to the mother's breast only when they feel any danger.
The life expectancy of the bat is 10 to 30 years, depending on the species.