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Bats
Bats are unique and present as fascinating animals. What makes them stand out is that
they are the only mammals that can fly for an extended period. Bats are classified in the kingdom
Animalia, class Mammalia, and order Chiroptera. Their ability to fly distinguishes them from
other mammals, but they are also blind and mostly move about in the night in search of food.
However, it is also interesting to note facts such as habitat, reproduction, particular adaptations,
and ecological significance of bats.
Despite a majority of similarities in all bats, we see especially with regards to their flight
capabilities they distinctly vary in size. We have Microchiroptera which are the small bats
common in the world and Megachiroptera which are the larger variant of fruit bats and vampire
bats (Altringham 18). The Megachiroptera weigh about one kilogram and have a wingspan of
about five feet. The smallest Microchiroptera has a wingspan of six inches and a weight of two
grams. However, it is worth noting that bats can either lead solitary lives or live together in
colonies.
In most cases bats live in warm climate regions and will even migrate when the cold sets
in or hibernate. The most popular areas that you will find bats include mines, caves, abandoned
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buildings, trees, and bridges (Fenton and Simmons 9). Bats will identify crevices that are in
isolation from populated areas, but in some cases, you may find them indoors. In most cases,
solitary bats prefer to live in trees, and the most common location for colony bats are caves like
the gray bat. During winter and when the cold seasons starts, they will migrate to warmer areas
or hibernate till the season passes as they sleep in the comfort of their habitats. In the confines of
their habitats, the bats will reproduce to preserve their species.
Study of reproduction in bats has come up with the conclusion that most species of bats
are polygynous. The males in a species like a vampire bat will mate with multiple female bats in
a bid to reproduce. However, there are also cases of both males and females having multiple
partners during the mating season in species like the brown bat. In rare instances we have
monogamous bats like the spectral bat. During reproduction male bats will strive to acquire
sufficient resources when they are roosting in their habitats to attract potential mates (Kunz 72).
However, there are a variety of tactics that bats use during the reproduction process. Males in
establishing their dominance mate with females and then insert mating plugs to deter other males
from depositing their sperm. Females, on the other hand, have been developing ways to control
the timing of the pregnancy to coincide with availability of resources. The females can either
deposit sperm to delay fertilization or delay the implantation of the fertilized egg (Kunz 73).
Once the egg is implanted the gestation period begins and varies with the species.
It is common to find that most species of bats will mate at around the same period. This
phenomenon is common since resources are readily available to cater to the children during
lactation and weaning (Kunz 75). Gestation varies between seven weeks in the smaller species
and more than five months for the large species. Before giving birth most pregnant females
migrate to live in roosts with other pregnant females. There is also the influence of the
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temperature and the surrounding of the bats. Bats give birth to one young one but in other cases
we can two for the big brown bat and up to four for the Eastern red bat. Smaller bats need about
six weeks to depend on milk and by two months are flying and foraging on their own. In the case
of the larger bats it may take up to about five months for them to fully develop. Bats become
sexually mature when they are 1-2 years and can reproduce as well (Fenton and Simmons 79).
Infant bats have high mortality because of diseases, defects, and even collisions as they try to fly.
However, mortality reduces in adult bats with the only dangers being predators, diseases, hunger,
and accidents.
Bats have over the years been recognized to possess adaptations that are crucial to their
continued existence. Bats can thermoregulate their body temperature depending on the prevailing
weather conditions. Bats have a body temperature of 37 °C, but in most cases vesper bats will
adjust their temperature to that of the surroundings (Altringham 30). Bats can also increase their
body temperature during the night as they go out in search of food. Drops in body temperature
are standard for bats which places them in a lethargic state during hibernation where bodily
functions are stalled to conserve energy. Another adaptation is that bats will commonly roost in
areas that expose them to sunlight without the need for water. Bats can regulate their body
temperature without requiring water. It has also been discovered that they chew their food
thoroughly to increase surface area during digestion. This ensures that they expediently excrete
which reduces the weight of the bat during flight. Bats can fly because they have lightweight
bones which are fused to the thin wing membrane. Bats have always been regarded as blind;
however, that is not the case. Bats have small eyes which are mainly able to visualize better with
minimal light, and since they are nocturnal animals this comes in handy. Bats also make use of
echolocation during hunting in the night where they emit high-pitched sounds to locate the
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position of prey (Altringham 63). Mostly, bats play a role in the environment that is also
beneficial to people.
From an ecological standpoint, bats play a crucial role in maintaining balance in the
environment. Bats, for the most of the species, eat insects which ensure that insects do not
overpopulate. Other birds that consume nectar, pollen, and fruits assist in pollination of flowers,
but fruit-eating bats can wreak havoc on fruit farms. However, bat droppings or as they are
known guano from insect-eating bats are used as fertilizer in farms. Bats also make up part of the
wildlife and people have made efforts to conserve colonies and areas where they roost. Bats are
also a source of prey for birds of prey like owls and hawks. However, in as much as bats are
helpful, they carry parasites with them that are harmful to the environment. Bats can carry
diseases like trypanosomiasis and transfer it to animals like cattle especially in the case of
vampire bats (Kunz 369). All these issues are akin to bats and address the basic concepts of these
flying mammals.
Mostly, bats are a common species and are on most occasions spotted in the night.
Despite, the misconception that they are blind bats can see and have other adaptations that make
it possible for them to reproduce and live through the changing weather. As we continue reaping
the benefits of bats from an ecological view, scientists continue their research to better
understand the only flying mammal.
Works Cited
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Altringham, John D. Bats: From Evolution to Conservation. New York: Oxford University Press
Inc, 2011.
Fenton, M. Brock and Nancy B. Simmons. Bats: A World of Science and Mystery. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press, 2015.
Kunz, Thomas H. Ecology of Bats. London: Plenum Press, 2015.
