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  Bats are mammals in the order Chiroptera (pronounced \kī-ˈräp-tə-rə\), a name of Greek origin, meaning hand-wing, describing the animals most unusual anatomical feature. The wings incorporate the hands, legs, and tail, and are connected together by two thin pieces of skin, that make up the wing membrane. This feature makes the bat the only mammal capable of true, sustainable flight.

   Bats are divided into two sub-orders, Megachiropters, consisting of flying foxes, and their old world fruit and flower eating relatives, and the microchiropters, compose the rest of the bat families. These bats range in size from the bumblebee bat at only 1 1\2 inches long and about 1.5 grams in weight, to the Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox, with a wing span of about 5 feet, and weighs around 3 pounds.

   There are about 1,100 bat species world wide, and about 70% of these are insectivores, which means they feed on insects. Most the rest are fungivores, and a few species feed on other animals, other than insects. Not only do bats help keep the insect population down, they also perform vital ecological roles, such as pollinating flowers, and spreading the seeds of fruit bearing plants.

Fun Bat Facts

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  A single small brown bat, can eat up to 1,000 insects an hour, and is one of the worlds longest living mammals, for it's size, with life spans of almost 40 years.
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  Most bats give birth to only a single pup each year, making them very vulnerable to extinction. They are the slowest reproducing animals on earth for their size.
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  Bats are very clean animals, and groom themselves constantly (when not eating or sleeping), to keep their fur clean.
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  A single colony of 150 big brown bats can protect local farmers from up to 33 million or more root worms per year.
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  Contrary to popular misconception, most bats have very good eyesight, and excellent echolocation, so they do not become entangled in human hair, and seldom transmit disease to humans or other animals.
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  Nearly 40% of American bat species are in sever decline or already listed as endangered or threatened. Loses are occurring at an alarming rate world wide.
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  Small brown bats can reduce their heart rate to 20 beats per minute and can stop breathing altogether for up to 48 minutes at a time while hibernating. They may hibernate for up to 7 months if left undisturbed, but can starve if they are awakened too many times during the winter, which causes them to run out of energy reserves before spring.

 

  

 

 

Big Brown Bat: Eptesicus fuscus

 These bats are between 4 and 5 inches long, and weigh 1\2 to 5\8 of an ounce. Their fur is moderately long, and shinny brown. The wing membranes, ears, feat and face, are dark brown to blackish in color.

 
 

Little Brown Bat: Myotis Lucifungus

The little brown bat is one of the most common bats found throughout America, but can be found all over the world. Its fur is uniformly dark brown and glossy on the back and upper parts, and slightly paler, grayish underneath. They are typically 2.4 to 3.9 inches in length, and weigh about 0.2 to 0.5 ounces.

 
 

Eastern Pipistrelle: Perimyotis subflavus

The Eastern Pipistrelles fur ranges from a grayish-brown, to a reddish color. The forearms are orange to red, and the wing membrane is black. They are between 3 and 3 1/2 inches long, and weigh about 1/10 to 1/5 of an ounce.