Are bats mammals? | AZ Animals

Bats are found in all parts of the world. These winged night sailors have given rise to many legends and myths. Few animals in the world have been as misunderstood and maligned as bats, but they are harmless and even helpful creatures.

Their bad reputation is probably due to their apparent ability to move without visibility, their bright red eyes, and their strange leathery wings. Are they birds or rats?

Bats are mammals. They meet all the characteristics required for the classification of mammals. Take a closer look at these adorable animals.

What is a mammal?

To be classified as a mammal, an animal must possess these characteristics.

• Vertebra: Animals have a vertebra, which is also known as the spine. This is what allows the mammal to stand upright on its own feet.
• Live birth: Mammals give birth to live births.
• Endothermic System: Mammals are endotherms, which means they can regulate their body temperature according to their environment. Another term for this is warm-blooded.
• Hair or Fur: All mammals have fur or hair that covers their skin. Some marine mammals do not have fur because it prevents them from swimming. Over the centuries of evolution, they have lost their fur.
• Milk: All female mammals feed their young.
• Social Behavior: Mammals generally have more complex societies than other species. They can communicate with each other and form social groups.
• Lungs: Mammals breathe with their lungs.

Are there different types of mammals?

Most mammals fall into one of three categories.

Placental mammals: The placental mammal gives birth to live offspring. Elephants, bats, and humans are all placental mammals. The baby is formed in the mother’s body and appears after full development.

Marsupials: Their children develop only partially at birth. Babies continue to grow living in their mothers’ bags. Opossums and kangaroos are marsupials.

Monotremes: There are exceptions to every rule, and monotremes are an exception to the mammalian rule. The platypus and echidna are warm-blooded fur-bearing vertebrates, but they lay eggs. However, monotremes feed their young, so they are classified as mammals.

How do bats compare?

• Vertebra: A bat has a vertebra.
• Live birth: female bats give birth to live babies. Typically, a bat gives birth to one child per year.
• Endothermic system: Bats are warm-blooded animals.
• Hair or Fur: All bats are covered in thick fluffy fur.
• Mammary glands: A mother bat feeds her baby for up to six months.
• Social Behavior: Bats inhabit colonies and have other signs of complex social interactions. They also communicate with each other. Male bats, for example, sing a mating song to attract females.
• Lungs: Bats breathe with the lungs.

As you can see, bats are clearly mammals.

Are there other flying mammals?

There are other winged mammals, but bats are the only mammal that flies constantly like a bird. Other winged mammals can only hover short distances.

Petavr: These arboreal marsupials are native to Australia and New Guinea. With their huge eyes and striped heads, they look like tiny flying chipmunks. They can slide up to 100 feet.

Colugo: It is a nocturnal animal native to Southeast Asia. It is one of the largest species of flying mammals. Kolyugo is sometimes called flying lemurs, although they do not belong to the lemur family. They can slide over 200 feet.

Flying squirrel: There are over 40 species of flying squirrels. These small mammals found all over the world have a cartilaginous spur that expands into wings. They use their tails as parachutes to help them land when they glide.

Paragliding Feathertail: This tiny glider looks like a dark mouse. Small enough to fit in the palm of a human, it has a long tail that it uses to balance when gliding. The feather paraglider comes from Australia.

How bats are classified

Bats fall into one of two taxa or groups. The Microchiroptera group includes small bats common in most places. Also known as microbats, they live everywhere on Earth except the Arctic. These bats have long tails and small muzzles with short snouts. They use high frequency echoes to navigate.

The second group, Megachiroptera, includes large bats found in Australia, Asia, Africa and India. Also called bats or flying foxes, they can have wingspan of 5 feet or more. Flying foxes have short tails and long muzzles. Unlike microbats, they focus on hearing and sight.

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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Are bats rodents?

Some people think that bats are rodents, but they are not. Their little furry bodies may remind you of a winged mouse, but they have nothing to do with the rodent family, which includes mice and squirrels.

Do vampire bats suck human blood?

Vampire bats do not drink human blood. Although they can appear threatening in horror films, these bats are shy and secretive. They are native to South and Central America and prefer to live in dark caves.

Vampire bats appeared millions of years ago. Scientists aren’t sure how they developed a taste for blood, but one theory is that they once ate insects found in animal wounds. Over time, they learned to drink the blood from these wounds.

There are three types of vampire bats. Common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) is the most common vampire bat. It mainly feeds on the blood of mammals. Hairy vampire bat (Diphilla ekaudata) and the white-winged vampire bat (Diemus young) feed mainly on the blood of birds. All three also eat insects, fruits and pollen.

Do bats carry rabies?

A small percentage of bats carry rabies. Transmission of rabies from bats to humans is extremely rare. If you’ve been bitten by a bat, it’s important to see your doctor.