Can you tell which creature hangs upside down on a tree? The answer is bats. Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera. With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight.
Bats can glide and fly easily from hanging position. Like other birds, they cannot fly from the ground, because its wings cannot give lift which is needed for take-off.
Also, their legs are so short and underdeveloped that they cannot run and catch the pace to fly. It usually rests throughout the day in dark caves and goes out in search of food at night.
There are over 1,400 species of bats worldwide. It drinks the blood of insects, spiders, fruits, fish or animals. Vampire bats rely solely on blood. They have three species. Its front teeth are specialized for cutting and the back teeth are much smaller than other bats.
Although most bats live less than 20 years in the wild, scientists have documented six species that live more than 30 years. The largest cave of bats is in Texas, where about 20 million bats live.
Bats are present throughout the world, with the exception of extremely cold regions. They are important in their ecosystems for pollinating flowers and dispersing seeds. Many tropical plants depend entirely on bats for these services.
Besides, the ability of bats to listen is amazing. They can easily hear the movement of hair. The heart rate of some bats is only 18 times per minute while asleep, but the speed reaches 880 when they are awake.