Bats belong to the order Chiroptera. It means that both forelimbs are turned into large wings, and strongly elongated fingers serve as a frame for them.

Such a structure does not allow them to soar like birds, forcing them to constantly flap their wings.

Airspeed bats can change from 15 km / h with a simple movement, up to 60 km/h while catching insects.

Another one distinguishing feature these animals - landing method. In a short period of time, bats need to slow down and land on a horizontal surface head down. They don't make nests..

REFERENCE! They feed on the fly, catching various insects right in the air. Usually one animal can catch up to 200 mosquitoes in an hour.

Learn more about what they eat the bats Can .

Photo

You can take a closer look at the bats in the photo with the names of the species.

White bat in the photo:

Bulldog Bat:

Bat dog fruity:

Smooth-nosed bat:

Bat bat:

Horseshoe Nose Bat:

Pig-nosed bat in the photo:

Ushan bat:

Bat vampire in the photo:

Party bat:

Varieties

White

Tailless or Honduran white bat - one of the little ones families. In addition to Honduras, he also lives in Central America - Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama.

Body - up to 4.5 cm long, small ears, nose unusual shape. Through it, animals produce echolocation - such a structure makes it possible to focus and amplify the signals sent.

They live under large sheets of heliconia, gnawing holes in them so that the ends, hanging down, form a tent. eat fruit.

Usually a family of 5-6 bats lives under one leaf, but sometimes several families unite into a large clan. females give birth one cub per year.

pig-nosed

Pig-nosed bat or bumblebee mouse was discovered in 1973. The bat got its second name due to its size - body no more than 3.3cm, and weight - up to 2 grams. This is the smallest bat.

In addition, on the muzzle there is a characteristic pig nose. The ears are large, but unlike other animals of the family, the pig-nosed mouse does not have a tail.

Basic habitat - Thailand and some neighboring lands. Lives in limestone caves, flies out to hunt in groups of 4-5 animals.

Do not move more than 1 km from the place of residence. Looking for insects in bamboo thickets or teak. There is no exact data on reproduction; most likely, the female brings one cub per year.

Vechernitsa

Vespers is one of the largest genera of bats, which includes 8 species and 13 subspecies. They live in Europe and North Africa, where are the largest bats from their own kind.

Body length - from 10 to 50 cm. Lives mainly in deciduous forests, does not settle in treeless spaces.

Hunts at dusk and dawn preferring beetles and butterflies. The largest parties are gigantic, can eat small songbirds.

REFERENCE! They are the fastest flyers - they can reach speeds of up to 60 km / h, rising to a height of up to 100 meters.

Sensitive to frost, therefore, with the onset of cold weather, they migrate over distances of up to 1000 km. Females bring one or two, rarely three cubs.

Flying dog and fox

Flying dogs or flying foxes, the fruit bat is the common name for a whole species of animal, fruit bats.

In fact, they are not insectivorous bats, but closer in structure and development to herbivorous primates.

The main differences from each other - food consumed, structure of the wing, the use of echolocation in mice and vision in fruit bats.

These animals not found in Russia, their main residence is the Asian rainforests of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Laos and other countries.

They got the nickname "flying dogs" because of characteristic elongated muzzle. Adult fruit bats are large - body up to 42 cm, wings up to 1.7 meters. Weight up to 900 grams.

They live in large colonies, settling in trees. Eat tropical fruits, especially like bananas, papaya, coconuts, grapes and others.

Because of their gastronomic preferences, fruit bats are called "fruit mice". The fruits are not eaten, but only suck the juice and pulp out of them.

IMPORTANT! A flock of fruit bats can cause significant damage to a farm by “eating” fruits on all the trees in the garden.

Animals sleep upside down. You can often see a picture when on cold nights one wing is used as a blanket, wrapping the whole body, and in the heat - instead of a fan.

The female has one cub per year.

smooth-nosed

Smooth-nosed bats are a large family that includes more than 318 species.

They got their name due to the fact that they do not have any characteristic hallmarks, the muzzle is smooth without cartilaginous outgrowths.

The smooth-nosed family includes leather, bats, evenings, earflaps and many others.

Live all over the world where there is woody vegetation. In Russia, there are 37 species of such mice.

They are active at dusk or at night when hunting for various insects. Separate types night bats eat fish.

IN cold period hibernation comes, but some (as, for example, evening parties) fly away to more warm places(?). Females give birth once in a season, 1-2, less often 3-4 individuals.

ushan

Ushans are a type of bats that have big size ears used for echolocation. In sleeping animals, they hide under folded wings.

Thanks to short, but wide wings, this animal can flutter and even briefly hover in the air to hunt insects. Body length - 5-6 cm.

Distributed throughout the continent from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean, in northern Asia, in North Africa.

They feed on mosquitoes, night butterflies, beetles, and other similar insects. The female gives birth to one, less often two cubs during the year.

Nightlight

Bats or short-eared bats are a species of smooth-nosed bats.

REFERENCE! The main difference from all similar animals is a very late departure for hunting, after complete darkness. At the same time, the flight itself is slow and calm.

Body length - 3.5-8.5 cm. common Worldwide except for the arctic regions.

In general, they are the only species that has adapted to life in absolutely any natural conditions, even fatal to other bats. In Russia, there are about 19 species.

They feed on nocturnal insects. The female brings one, less often two cubs during the year.

Horseshoe bats

Horseshoe bats are a species of bats that were so named because of cartilage around the nose that looks like a horseshoe.

Such a structure is necessary for echolocation, the signals of which are emitted through the nostrils. common in the eastern hemisphere, in Russia they live only in the Caucasus.

eat insects, which are hunted in flight. They may hang in place for a short time.

They fly out to hunt about half an hour after sunset, and show activity first half of the night. Females give birth to only one cub during the year.

Bulldog

Bulldog bats are a family that is different from all other tribesmen more developed wings- they are narrow, long and pointed.

Because of this, the frequency of strokes is slightly higher than in other mice. Average body length - 4-14.5 cm. Live in tropical areas both hemispheres.

They can form groups from several tens to millions of individuals. The flight is fast, the echoes are very high intensity.

Some species can produce 3 offspring per year, consisting of one cub each time.

Vampire

IMPORTANT! They are dangerous to people and pets, because during the bite they can transmit rabies and various infectious diseases.

They only eat fresh blood other animals or birds, may occasionally attack and on sleeping people.

Echolocation is poorly developed, during the hunt they rely more on excellent hearing and infrared receptors. With the help of the latter, the least protected area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin is determined.

Video

A short film about the types of bats and their life features:

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Probably every person at least once in his life encountered bats. They can be seen in any city or village, it is only late in the evening or at night to go outside. When we observe these mysterious individuals, the question arises by itself: “Is a bat a bird or an animal?” Let's try to figure this out together.

Animal or bird?

The bat is an animal that belongs to the bats. They are the only mammals that have mastered flight. The most interesting thing is that the name of the species is not true, because these animals have nothing to do with rodents. It would be logical to call them flying monkeys, since flying monkeys are similar to primates. People very often argue: “Which specific species does this bird or animal belong to? Which of these statements is correct?" However, it is unlikely that a person versed in zoology will be able to attribute it to birds just because it has wings. To get started, you need to know full image bat life. Only after that, by providing arguments, can one be convinced of belonging to one or another genus.

Nutrition

Almost all species of bats feed on insects. Because of this, constant questions arise about what species a bat belongs to: is it a bird or an animal. Each individual has their taste preferences: some love butterflies or midges more, others prefer spiders or beetles, others prefer larvae.

Often, bats grab their food during the flight, when a potential victim is floating in the air. As a rule, they also eat on the fly, although there are those bats that prefer to settle down in a more convenient place after the hunt. Their methods of obtaining food are quite interesting and worthy of attention. For example, some bats, with certain movements of the wings, reminiscent of the work of the blades, rake up insects towards themselves, while others use their tail membrane as a net with which they catch prey.

Varieties of bats

Like all animals, bats are divided into species. Bats on this moment there are quite a few. To date, more than 1200 varieties have been discovered. It is unlikely that anyone will want to dispute the fact that the only flying mammals are the most common on the planet. According to statistics, every fifth animal is a bat. They all seem very similar, but they are not. Each species is different and has no analogues. IN temperate latitudes of the total number of mice, only fifty species live. That is why many do not even suspect that giant individuals exist! For example, the wingspan of bats living in the tropics is more than 170 centimeters. The species of bats are so diverse that research is being carried out at the present time.

Wings

The wings of a bat are formed by thin skin that stretches between the body and fingers. They are designed in such a way that they are able to emit ultrasound, which helps bats navigate in space. With this, the animal can easily detect prey or feel an obstacle in the way. Since ancient times, people believed that they liked to sit on the head of women and drink blood. Actually it is not. The hair of the weaker sex has a peculiar structure, so the wings of a bat, emitting ultrasound, do not receive feedback, respectively, the animal believes that there is an empty space in front of it.

additional information

Bats have very poor vision (black and white) and a sense of smell. Their characteristic feature is perfect hearing. In order to navigate well in the dark, they make a sound and, by its echo, understand whether there is an obstacle in their path and what is the distance to it. Because of this, they do not need good vision.

The basic habits of almost all bat species are similar. They all lead only nightlife, avoid bright places and do not make nests. During the day, bats sleep hanging upside down. Most of these mammals are able to hibernate for a very long time due to the ability to slow down the processes of the body. Surprisingly, these animals can change the intensity of the respiratory rate, affect the heart, reduce the speed

Bats fly well, their flight is quite fast and maneuverable, so the question of whether a bat is a bird or an animal is controversial and is often the subject of lengthy discussions.

The science that deals with the study of bats is called chiropterology. In just a few years, scientists have been able to discover dozens of new species of these creatures. It has now been proven that the most common and numerous animal in the world is the bat. But, unfortunately, at the moment they have not yet been fully studied. Their habitat covers almost the entire Earth, except for islands in the ocean and polar regions. They are frequent guests in forests and deserts, plains and mountains, and also live both in a populous city and in those places where no human foot has set foot.

Bats represent the "bats" order, although fruit bats are not included in this order. For many decades it was believed that bats represent a separate suborder, but after a series of studies on molecular level, it was found that this is a combined group.

These animals appeared on our planet several tens of millions of years ago, while scientists found the skeletons of bats from the Eocene period. Based on the findings, it was established that these ancient relatives of modern bats did not have significant differences. Although scientists still cannot understand why these living creatures learned to fly.

Appearance

Bats, regardless of their variety, are united common features, although there are some differences that are related to sizes and other external data. On the body of bats, wool grows, which is lighter in color in the abdomen. The wingspan, depending on the species, can reach almost 2 meters, while the shape of the wings can be different, but the structure is almost identical. The wings of these animals are formed from leathery membranes and muscles, as well as elastic veins. At rest, the wings of the animal fit snugly to the body.

An interesting moment! The flight of bats is unthinkable without the synchronous work of the hind limbs.

Bats have well-developed forelimbs, which consist of strong, short upper arms and long forearms, which are formed by a single radius. Thumb the forelimb is armed with a hooked claw, while other rather long fingers serve as support for the wing membranes and are located laterally.

The length of the tail, as well as the shape of the body, depends on the species. Due to the presence of a special bony outgrowth called a "spur", many species turn their wings towards the tail without any problems.

All bats, regardless of variety, prefer to be nocturnal. During the day, they rest, hanging head down in their shelters, in the form of caves or various wooden buildings.

Bats are able to fall into a state of suspended animation, which is characterized by a slowdown in the speed of vital processes. As a result of this, the intensity of breathing slows down in animals, and the heart rate also slows down. This allows the animals to be in a state of torpor for a long period of time. As a rule, this is characteristic of the cold seasons. Being in this state, animals can easily do without food.

Interesting fact! Usually these animals fly at a speed of no more than 15 km / h, but during the hunt, bats are able to accelerate to almost 60 km / h.

Regardless of habitat conditions, bats have a similar lifestyle and habits. Bats do not build nests and at the same time live in numerous colonies, although there are species that prefer to live apart. When these animals are resting, they take care of their body very carefully, and especially their wings. While at rest, many species become completely helpless, while some species move perfectly with the help of tenacious paws.

Compared to other mammals, bats have an impressive lifespan. For example, the brown bat is known to be able to live for several decades.

Types of bats with a photo

There are many species of "bats", while their differences lie in the different structure of the skeleton and the number of teeth. The main varieties of bats include:

Tailless or Honduran white bat

It is considered the smallest variety, with a body length of not more than 5 centimeters. The habitat of this animal extends to Honduras, as well as to countries Central America. The basis of the diet is fruits. These animals can be found in groups of 5-6 individuals.

Craseonycteris thonglongyai)

The length of this animal without a tail is about 3 and a half cm, with a weight of about 20 grams. The animal got its name due to the peculiarity of the shape of its nose, which resembles a pig's snout. The habitat of such bats extends to the territory of Thailand and neighboring countries. Here they settle in limestone caves, and feed in thickets of bamboo and teak.

Evening bat (Nyctalus noctula)

On the contrary, it is a larger representative of its kind. Includes 13 subspecies. Individuals grow up to half a meter in size. They fly out in search of food at dusk, as well as before dawn. The animal feeds on butterflies, beetles, and some birds. This species is found in North America, as well as in some European countries. The main habitats are associated with dense green spaces.

The variety differs in that they have an elongated muzzle. The animals grow up to almost 0.4 meters with a wingspan of almost 0.7 meters and a weight of almost 1 kilogram. Found in the tropics. The basis of the diet is fruits, as well as flower nectar.

Smooth-nosed bat (Vespertilionidae)

This variety includes up to 3 hundred subspecies. The family differs in that it has a smooth muzzle, without the presence of growths in the form of cartilage. About 40 subspecies inhabit the territory of our country. With the onset of winter cold, they fall into a state of suspended animation.

Earflaps (Plecotus)

characteristic feature species, the presence of large locator ears, as well as the shape of the wings, is considered. These animals have short, but wide wings, and their body length is within 6 centimeters. Earflaps feed on various nocturnal insects, in the form of butterflies, mosquitoes, beetles, etc.

Bulldog bat (Molossidae)

This variety is distinguished by the presence of relatively long, but narrow and pointed wings. This allows the animal to move its wings more frequently in flight. Grow in length no more than 15 centimeters. The habitat is associated with the tropics, where they sometimes form numerous colonies.

Vampire bats may represent special interest because they are not so harmless animals. These bats are dangerous not only for various animals, but also for people. The bite of this animal may not be harmless at all, since they are carriers of dangerous, and sometimes fatal diseases.

natural habitats

The habitat of representatives of the order "bats" includes the habitat of various varieties of bats. Many of the species have their own characteristic territories where they nest and forage for themselves, while many members of the order "bats" move along the same path as bats.

In bats, relatively high speed the course of vital processes, which is impossible without an appropriate amount of food. Adults in one night eat so many food objects that their weight is 1/3 of the weight of the animal itself. If we take into account the size of the colony, then for summer period several hundred bats destroy more than half a million different insects, including pests of agriculture and forestry. Especially numerous colonies destroy more than tens of millions of pests during the summer period.

Important point! Since bats have thin but wide wings, they quickly lose moisture. If they do not have free access to water, then this sometimes causes the death of these useful animals.

In varieties that prefer to live in the tropics, enough long tongue, which enables animals to feed on pollen, as well as nectar. This, in turn, ensures the distribution of most of the wild plants of the tropics. At the same time, there are also predatory varieties of such animals. A characteristic feature of these species is the presence of large and fairly sharp teeth. Their diet consists of rodents and small birds.

Bats have a lot natural enemies, as birds of prey, predatory animals and reptiles. And yet, it is believed that their main enemy is a person who uses toxic drugs in crop production, which leads to a noticeable reduction in the number of these useful living creatures.

Reproduction and offspring

The features of the reproduction process of these mammals depend on the species, as well as natural habitats.

For example:

  • In smooth-nosed bats, no more than 4 cubs are born every year.
  • Ushans reproduce no more than 2 cubs.
  • "Flying Fox" reproduces offspring in the amount of 1 cub.

Important point! Only the bulldog bat brings offspring about three times every year, while only 1 baby is born at a time.

Most of the species, as well as subspecies, do not differ in high rates of reproduction, since the female gives birth to only one cub in one year.

Population and species status

Some of the bat species in modern time classified as rare animals, and some of them are already considered extinct, such as the common long-winged. Species such as the pointed-eared night lamp and the two-color cauldron are listed in the Red Book.

At the same time, it should be noted that in Lately trend changed in better side. Bat populations, although slowly, are increasing. This is due to the fact that recently they began to use chemicals more reasonably, including for the purpose of saving.

Finally

Nevertheless, it should be noted that bats have a characteristic, unpleasant, repulsive appearance, which gave rise to many legends and tales about these animals. There is an opinion that they have no vision, and why should they, if they use echolocation. As for vision, this is a complete misconception, since many species have better vision than humans. It would seem, why does a bat need vision? Yes, at least in order to distinguish what time of day to fly out to hunt. In addition, their sonar operates no more than 50 meters. Therefore, in certain conditions, it is better for them to navigate with the help of their eyes, since they are much "long-range". Recently, scientists have discovered that some species respond to the polarization of sunlight. This factor allows animals to easily navigate in space, as a result of calculating the angles of incidence and angles of reflection. It turns out that they have their own kind of compass: not magnetic, but light.

Almost all children of preschool and younger school age interested in animal life. And, of course, the main assistants in the knowledge of the world around, in this period of a child's life, are the parents.

However, kids sometimes ask questions that are difficult to give an exhaustive answer, and first you need to read a little yourself and prepare for the story. One of these questions is the question of bats, because you can meet them practically in any part of our country, just being on the street at night.

Of course, kids may not like this ugly creature and at first even scare a little, but it is so unusual that you will probably want to know more about it.

So, what to tell kids about bats?

We are used to the fact that if an individual has wings, then it is a bird, bats are an exception.

The bat is the only animal on our planet that can fly. Interesting name scientists gave them - a detachment of "bats".

It may seem that bats are all of the same species, that is, they are all the same. However, this is not so, according to scientists, there are about 1000 species of bats on Earth.

So, on the territory of our country you can meet bats with funny names - leaf-nosed, leather, large ears, night bats, etc.

The muzzles of bats resemble the snout of a pig, but there are some similarities with a mouse muzzle. Some representatives of these animals also have huge ears, like a hare, and a horn on their nose, like a rhinoceros.

The body of bats is covered with soft and thick fur skin. The skin covers the entire body of the animal, except for the wings. The color of the mouse skin can be gray or brown.

The front paws - "wings" of bats are long fingers connected by leather membranes. Spreading their fingers and opening their "wings", the animals can fly and take cover if they are cold.

Due to their unique features, the animals can reach a flight speed of up to 20-40 km / h, that is, move like a leisurely car. Can you imagine? After all, this is a movement in pitch darkness. Scientists say that bats see the world in black and white, and they see something, by the way, not very well. Echolocation allows them to navigate well in the dark - such special ultrasonic pulses that are reflected from objects. The animals catch these impulses with their auricles, which allows them to maneuver and avoid collisions with obstacles.

An interesting feature is that when mice fly, they always scream loudly.

It is worth noting that bats not only fly well, but also excellently climb steep surfaces, move on the ground, and can even hover in the air above the water. Amazing animals!

How big do bats get?

Most often, the size of individuals ranges from 3 to 10 cm, but there are species on Earth that reach 40-50 cm.

Where and how do bats live?

Usually bats live in groups that can reach more than 1000 individuals.

Their home is in the places they don't go to. solar light. For example, dark caves, hollows, abandoned basements and attics.

Animals sleep all day upside down, wrapping themselves in wings - this is another one of them. amazing feature. But with the onset of darkness, they are put forward to hunt.

Flying animals feed on insects, fruits, and flower nectar.

But there are also species that feed on the blood of birds or small animals. Such mice live in America, Mexico and southern Argentina. And there are species that feed on fish.

With the onset of frost, bats hibernate, and those that do not fall fly away to warmer climes, like birds.

According to scientists, average duration The life of a bat is 7-10 years. Once a year, a female (or two cubs) is born to a female, which she feeds with milk.

You can see the bat in the zoo or on the street at night. Sometimes, bats fly into the windows of houses by mistake. However, if it is safe to meet a bat in a zoo, then it is better not to touch a bat that has flown through the window or met on the street, because it can be a carrier dangerous diseases, For example, .

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Bats have importance for various ecosystems around the world. Often people treat them with prejudice and fear them. Let's take a moment and appreciate the charming side of these little animals. And 25 of the cutest types of bats will help us with this.

Bats are mysterious and misunderstood creatures. They are frequent heroes of the dark and scary stories and myths. They have accumulated a bad reputation for centuries. But in fact, bats are vital members of ecosystems around the world, acting as natural pest control methods, as well as helping to pollinate plants and disperse seeds. While some species may look a bit creepy, other types of bats are downright adorable. We've rounded up 25 of the cutest types of bats here to show you just how cute they can be.

This is a photo of a tiny baby Egyptian flying dog, the species is found throughout Africa and the Middle East.

California leaf-nosed bat


The species lives in Mexico and the USA, loves the warmth of the deserts. This bat can be found in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts where they feed on things like crickets, grasshoppers and moths. The California leaf-nosed bat is an expert in flight and maneuver.

White leaf-bearing


The species is distinguished from most bats by its charming white color and yellow ears and nose. The white leaf-bearer is only 5 cm long. During roosting, they are located along the edges of large leaves, where they make structures in the form of a tent. This technique protects them from bad weather and predators while they are resting.


Indian flying fox

This species is one of the largest among bats, with a wingspan of 120-150 cm. flying fox can fly from 14 to 65 km, so its importance for the wide distribution of seeds and pollination should not be underestimated.

Large brown leather


A cute leather man with a wonderful name. This species is found in North America, Central America and northernmost South America. They are of great benefit to people, destroying pests such as moths, beetles and.

Pygmy epaulette fruit bat


This funny and cute species reaches only 7-9 cm in length. Living in Africa, they feed on small fruits, nectar and pollen.

horseshoe bats

This is a family of bats with amazingly shaped skin around the nose and rather large ears. They are insect eaters. Horseshoes use their ears for echolocation and their wide wings for extra agile flight while chasing prey.

brown earflaps

This species of European bat also has a particularly long ears with characteristic folds at the bottom. But even with those ears, this species relies more on its eyesight. The brown earflap mainly feeds on moths, which it finds among the leaves and bark of trees.

Striped yellow-eared leaf-bearer


This delightful specimen lives in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Panama in mature evergreen forests. The number of individuals of this species of leaf-bearers has sharply decreased due to human intrusion into its habitat.

mediterranean horseshoe bat


The Mediterranean horseshoe bat, which is listed in the IUCN Red List, continues the list of the 25 cutest bat species. They live in warm wooded area, especially with big amount caves and water sources. There they hunt butterflies and insects.

White-bellied arrowhead


The white-bellied arrowhead lives in the desert regions of Morocco through all of Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula. It has adapted well to arid and inhospitable regions. The white-bellied arrowhead is the first enemy for scorpions, on which it usually feeds. He is immune to their poisons.

small bat


This European look is one of those that like to live near rivers and streams. The lesser bat hunts in forests and wetlands for water midges and other insects.

Big false vampire


The species is found in South Asia and South-East Asia in wet tropical forests. Behind charming appearance this bat hides an exceptional predator. Big fake vampire can eat everything from large insects to lizards, frogs, rats, small birds and even other types of small bats. Surprisingly, he can detect and catch prey, a mouse or a frog in total darkness and without the use of echolocation.

Small false vampire


Mini versions of the larger false vampires. Instead of big booty they eat insects. Lesser false vampires live in groups of 3-30 individuals in crevices, caves, and hollow trees.

Large fruit-eating leaf-bearer


This is a fairly common species in South and Central America. On the IUCN Red List, this species is considered one of those that are at minimal risk of extinction.

Red hairytail


This proud female red hairytail guards her three tiny babies. Such hugs keep the right amount of warmth. Very often, females of this species give birth to twins or even two pairs of twins (fours).

Pig-nosed bat

Another tiny species on our list of the 25 cutest bat species, which is only 2.5-3.3 cm long. The pig-nosed bat is the smallest among its related species and possibly also the smallest mammal in the world.

Malayan short-nosed fruit bat


Native to South and Southeast Asia and Indonesia, this bat loves mango dishes. She also eats other fruits, but prefers mangoes. They also eat nectar and pollen like other fruit bats and are essential for plant pollination.

spotted earflap


Very cute tiny bats with spots. The spotted ear bat has the largest ears compared to its body size. It primarily preys on grasshoppers and butterflies.

gray hairytail


This species can be found throughout North and South America. It got its name from the gray color of its coat. The gray hairytail is a loner, sleeps in trees and preys primarily on moths.

Spectacled flying fox


These bats live in the forested and tropical regions of Northern Australia. Their diet consists of tropical fruits and flowers. Babies stay close to their mother for up to 5 months. They then join other juveniles in "baby trees" where they continue to learn how to fly.

Southern Lesser Yellow-eared Broadnosed


This species lives in the Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil and eastern Paraguay. Apart from being a very cute species, very little is known about it.

Sulawe fruit bat


The Sulawesi fruit bat is a well-known lowland species of the Sulawesi sub-region. locals consider this baby a carrier of good luck. Like other species that feed on fruits, this one also makes a significant contribution to the ecosystem.

Pale spear

This species of Central and South America feeds primarily on nectar, pollen, and flowers, but they are omnivores and can also catch insects. In some areas, their diet may shift from plants to insects depending on the season.

Gambian epaulette fruit bat


The Gambian epaulette fruit bat ends the list of the 25 cutest bat species. Living mainly in Africa, they feed on figs, guava, mangoes and banana trees. They also use sight and smell, rather than echolocation, to search for food.

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