Animals are arranged into classifications according to specific physical and behavioral traits making it easier for scientist to study them.
Each animal is placed into one of six groups: mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects, and fish. Inside each of these broad categories are sub-categories which are then broken down even further according to their relationships, habits, and physical characteristics.
The Order Chiroptera
Chiroptera is one of the orders inside the mammals group of animals. It’s the category that’s unique to the only flying mammal; the order of bats. Chiroptera is second only to the order rodentia (rodents) in terms of species numbers. Bats make up about 20% of all mammals species in the world and have nearly 1000 species in the chiroptera order.
The name chiroptera literally means “hand wing” and they're the only mammals that have wings and truly fly. Mammals such as flying squirrels are actually gliders. Bat’s wings are modified hands and forelimbs. The wings are made up of four long fingers with a double-membrane of skin that stretch between the finger bones and “hand”. This membrane extends to the forearms and the sides of the body, as well as the hind legs. There’s also an interfemoral membrane connecting the legs and tail.
The largest bat is the Golden-Crowned Fruit Bat (Acerodon jubatus) or Flying Fox that weighs in at 3 pounds and has a wing span of 5 feet wide; the smallest is the Philippine Bamboo Bat (Tylonycteris pachypus) that tops the scales at 1/20th of an ounce, is 4 centimeters long, and has a 15 centimeter wingspan.
The Suborders of Chiroptera – Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera
The two major suborders of bats are called megachiroptera and microchiroptera and each category has its physical and habitual traits. Megachiroptera are the bats whose primary food is fruit, pollen, nectar, or plants. There’s around 166 species inside this group. The rest of the species fall into the group microchiroptera, including the insectivores like the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus), as well as some families which eat rodents, reptiles, birds, etc. One family in this group are the bats that feed on the blood of other mammals; the renowned Vampire Bat.
The megachiroptera group of bats live only in the tropical regions of the world, and find their food mainly by eyesight; their large eyes enabling them to see in the night. They can also control their body temperatures; therefore have no need for hibernation. Only one mega is without a claw on the second digit, the rest of them all have this wing-supporting feature.
The microchiroptera bats are found world-wide below the polar areas. These are the bats that use the amazing echolocation (hence some of the intricate and larger ears on these types) and some of the species within this group do hibernate. Micros never have the extra claw on their second digits.
Bat Habitats
Bats can be found in nearly every habitat except for icy tundras. They make their homes in forests, fields, deserts, urban and suburban, temperate, tropical forests, urban and suburban areas. They enjoy living near lakes, ponds or any body of freshwater as these provide the opportunity to hunt a number of insect species.
Different species of bats have unique roosting requirements. Some like the crevices of caves or trees, while others will roost in logs, attics or the walls of a house. Sometimes the same species of bat will choose different roosting locations depending on whether he’s hibernating or not.
Bat Young
Bats can give birth to up to 4 young at a time; however they most often give birth to 1 or 2. These babies cling to their mother as long as they can, but as they grow she’ll leave them roosting while she hunts for food as they become a burden to her. At the tender age of 10-11 weeks old, the pups are capable of flying off and finding food for themselves.
Slowly, bats are overcoming their unjustified reputation of being aggressive, blood-sucking, frightening animals and becoming seen for the truly important creatures that they surely are. Bats not only feed on hundreds of unwanted insect pests, but disperse native plant seeds, and pollinate flowers. Nearly 40% of the bats in the United States alone are endangered due to destruction of habitat and uncontrolled pesticide use.
Chris McLaughlin - Chris McLaughlin's gardening books include "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Heirloom Vegetables." Check out her complete profile.
