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The scientific name of bats is “Chiroptera”. Bats are animals that belong to the order Chiroptera and class Mammalia. They are the only members in the group of mammals that are capable of flight. Their forelimbs are reformed into wings, with membranes stretching out for easy powered flight. One of the most distinguishing features of bats is their skill to echolocate which can be described as the process wherein a sound is used as a means for locating distant or invisible objects. Echolocation is used for orientation, obstacle avoidance and food procurement.
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Key words: Bats, Scientific Name, Mammalia, Chiroptera, Binomial Nomenclature
Common Facts about Bats
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The common facts about bats are-
- Scientifically known as Chiroptera, bats usually live more than 30 years and can fly at the speed of 60mph.
- Due to their nocturnal nature, bats are capable of finding their food in complete darkness.
- Some bats hibernate in caves through the cold winter months and can easily survive in freezing temperatures.
- The reproduction cycle of most bats are limited to having one pup a year making them extremely vulnerable to extinction.
- The world’s largest bat is the Flying Fox. They are usually found in the islands of the South Pacific.
Learn More About:
| Important Concepts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Species | Herbarium | Taxonomic Hierarchy |
| Genus | Living Things | Scientific Names |
| Taxonomy | Diversity in Living Organism | Biodiversity in Plants and Animals |
Habitat and Ecology of Bats
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Bats (Chiroptera) usually exist in every part of the world except Antarctica.
- Most bats are insectivorous, and some are nectarivores or frugivores.
- Through an ecological view, bats are important to humans due to their seed dispersal and pollination properties. In tropical areas, many plants are dependent upon the bats for the pollination process.
- Bats also are useful to humans as they control insect pests and their excreta could be used as an effective natural fertilizer.
Things to Remember
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- Bats scientific name is “Chiroptera”.
- Bats usually live up to 10-30 years.
- Bats use the process of echolocation to make up for their poor sight.
- The largest Bat in the world is the flying fox.
- Bats excreta is used as a natural fertilizer.
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Sample Questions
Ques: What is the scientific name of a bat? (1 mark)
Ans: The scientific name of a bat is Chiropetra.
Ques: Which is the world’s largest bat? (1 mark)
Ans: Flying foxes (Pteropus Vampyrus) are the world’s largest bats. They have a wingspan of more than 1.5 meters.
Ques: How long does a bat live? (1 mark)
Ans: The lifespan of a bat usually depends on its species and place of habitat, however the average lifespan of a bat is 16 to 30 years.
Ques: Do bats have advanced hearing? (1 mark)
Ans: Bats have the ability to echolocate which is the process of finding things based on their sound. Hence, it can be said that bats have advanced hearing.
Ques: Are bats blind? (1 mark)
Ans: Bats are nocturnal animals who have trouble seeing in daylight. Therefore, they depend on their night vision and echolocation for survival.
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