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Welcome to Britannica School , a safe, up-to-date, and age-appropriate information resource for Elementary, Middle, and High School.

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Bats in Human Culture

The culture of bats is one that goes back very far in history. The legends of vampires and Dracula around Transylvania continue to be great stories. They have been tales passed along for generations. They have also been the story line for books, comics, and even moving. The fascination with bats due to them drinking blood has been one that brings these stories full circle.

The human element of it is that these bats can take on human forms. They can encourage people to get close to them and then close in for the bite. In a tricky situation the vampire can easily turn into a bat and escape. Such folklore is believed to have started as a means of keeping people from being out alone at night in the dark.

These stories also circulate due to the sacred images of the bat for the people of Tonga. According to their beliefs, the bat is a separate soul. They are a symbol of ghosts For many Indian tribes the bats are believed to be evil spirits, those that are full of trickery. However, for the Chinese the bat is deemed as a lovely creature. They associate it with happiness and longevity.

The mythology of the Mesoamericans have the bat as a shadow of darkness that looms over them. It is a symbol of the land of the dead and part of the underworld. When a person would see one it could mean that death or destruction was sure to happen in their near future. On the flip side of that you will find that in Barcelona the bat is part of their Coat of Arms. Many of the soccer teams in Spain also use the bat as their emblem.

The pre-Columbian culture displayed the bat as one of their legendary gods. They are often part of the paintings and drawing of these older time. Sometimes these figures are also found in ceramics including forms of pottery that they have created. The United Kingdom protects bats, and anyone that purposely harms them can be fined severely.

There are plenty of novels out there that portray the bat in fascinating forms as well. This includes Watership Down and Silverwing. People are often fascinated with bats though in many formats. In fact, one of the largest tourist attractions in Austin Texas where more than 1.5 million bats will be found during the summer months. More than 100,000 tourists come to this area annually to see them. The Count Duckula was a British animated television series very famous in the late 80's.

There are also bat traps and houses that people build and display just like they do for birds. They like the idea of being able to have them come and go to feed on insects. They also like to view them at night to see how they thrive. You do have to be careful though as your thoughts of attracting a few bats can result in hundreds or thousands living there before you know it.

Video games have long been a popular staple in our society. One of the games is called Sonic the Hedgehog. One of the characters is Rouge the Bat. There are multiple levels of this game and in them the bat is responsible for making lots of chaos.

One of the best known characters in popular culture in regards to bats is that of Batman. He is a superhero out there to do good. During the day he is Bruce Jenner, but at night he is a force to be reckoned with. The lifetime villain the Joker continues to be one that brings new scenarios for Batman to rescue people from. Many see Batman as the opposite version of the feared Dracula.

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The culture of bats is one that goes back very far in history. The legends of vampires and Dracula around Transylvania continue to be great stories. They have been tales passed along for generations. They have also been the story line for books, comics, and even moving.

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Lets face it, bats get a pretty bad rep. Many times in the media they are portrayed as scary, blood sucking, rabid creatures. The vast majority of bats will never get rabies. And quite a few species can be pretty darn cute! As someone who has spent time studying bats in the wild, I jumped at the opportunity to share what I've learned with others-it's something I believe all biologists should do. Here are my reasons for liking bats (and why you should like them too!).

1: They're our relatives.

Many people refer to bats as "flying mice," but in truth bats are more closely related to humans than they are to rodents. And aren't we supposed to be nice to our relatives?

2: They're an INCREDIBLY diverse group of mammals.

Bats are the second largest group of mammals in the world and consist of over 1,300 species. Among these species are bats that eat fruit, insects, nectar, meat and blood (only three species eat this way). Bats' wingspan can range from 6 inches long (bumblebee bat) to 6 feet long (several bat species known as flying foxes)! There are bats in every continent but Antarctica that live in caves, hollow trees, under loose tree bark, on tree branches and even man-made structures like bridges, wells, mines and buildings! In some species bats live alone, while others live in colonies of a few dozen, hundreds, thousands or even millions! And the variety of physical appearances is astounding, with species having an assortment of facial features, fur patterns, color and tail and ear lengths. Others have been given nicknames based on their appearances, such as the hammerhead bat, painted bat, the recently-discovered badger bat, and the Yoda bat!

3: They're the only mammals that can fly.

Bats can actively control their flight, whereas "flying" squirrels can only glide (sorry guys!).

4: They can see with their ears.

Bats aren't blind and can use their eyes. However, many species use echolocation to find their prey and "see" their surroundings. They make calls that will travel through the air until it hits an object. This call then bounces off the object and echos back to the bat, letting them know where the object is (so its unlikely that they'll fly in your hair). Bats can make up to 160 calls per SECOND as they close in on their prey. This would seem like a noisy way to get food, but most bat calls are at ultrasound frequencies that are too high for us (and their prey) to hear.

5: They are really good pest exterminators.

Many bats eat LOTS of bugs! By doing this, bats reduce the amount of pesticides farmers need to use (which also means less pesticides polluting the environment) and they reduce the amount of produce damaged by pests (which means more food for us!). Recently scientists estimated that bats in the United States have save us somewhere between $3.7 and 54 billion in pest control services every year. Bats have been documented eating bugs that attack pecans, almonds, rice, cotton, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tomatoes, cucumbers and beans.

6: They help produce some of our favorite foods.

Nectar-eating bats do this by pollinating flowers, just like bees. As they travel from flower to flower drinking nectar, they transfer pollen from one flower to another, which causes these plants to produce fruit (and seeds). Bats pollinate over 700 plants, some of which we use for food and medicine. Wild varieties of many of our most valuable crops rely on bats for their survival. These include bananas, breadfruit, avocados, dates, figs, peaches, mangoes and many others. In the American Southwest, the saguaro and organ pipe cacti and agave are pollinated by bats.

7: They are gardeners of the rainforest.

Fruit bats do this by a process called seed dispersal. These bats eat fruit and their seeds, fly away and disperse the seeds in a different location via their feces. By moving seeds away from the parent plant, bats allow these seeds to grow in an area where they'll be more likely to grow without competition from the parent plant. One estimate found that one square meter of the rainforest floor on average may contain 12-80 bat-dispersed seeds each year. These include plants like figs, palms, Jamaican pepper (also know as allspice) and cacao, from which we get chocolate!

8: Their guano is good for our gardens.

Guano (aka bat poop) is contains nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate which helps plant, root and flower health and growth. And many people buy and use bat guano in their gardens! Don't believe me?

9: They're contributing to human health.

Scientists have extracted a compound from vampire bat saliva and turned it into medicine (aptly named Draculin). Studies have fond this anticoagulant drug to be very useful for stroke patients. Scientists are also studying bats' resistance to DNA damage and malaria parasites in hopes of learning more about human DNA damage and how to better deal with malaria.

10: They're fun to study!

There's so much to learn about these amazing creatures. When I studied them I was able to stay up late at night (or all night!), camp, hike and observe wildlife-things I already love doing! I'm still a young biologist and my field work has been limited to Virginia (studying bats roosting in abandoned buildings) and Nevada (doing mine and cave surveys of bats), but even in that short time I've gotten a chance to see lots of beautiful scenery, strange and unusual sights, and plenty of non-bat wildlife. And I always have a good story (and plenty of photos) to share with others when I get home. So consider studying these fascinating animals-we have much to learn!

So bats are nothing to be scared of. In fact, bats are facing something very scary themselves: a disease called white-nose syndrome, which has killed over 5 million bats since first appearing in a New York cave in 2006. Bats are also facing mortality from wind turbines, habitat loss, vandalism of their roosts, and as a source of bush meat in other countries.

How Can We Help Bats?

We can help bats out by creating and protecting habitat for them: If you have old or dead trees on your property, leave them standing (if its safe to do so). Bat houses are another great way to provide bats with a safe place to live. If you know where bats are roosting, do not disturb them, especially in early summer (when pups are being born and cant fly) or during the winter (when they are hibernating). You can also become a member of a bat conservation group who use their resources to help bats or get involved with National Wildlife Federation. The scariest thing of all would be if bats disappeared!

About the Author
This is a guest post by Ela-Sita Carpenter, M.S., who is a volunteer naturalist with the Natural History Society of Maryland. Her thesis research focused on abandoned building roosts of Rafinesque's big-eared bats in southern Virginia. She's also studied bats in Nevada, shorebirds on Virginia's barrier islands, and conducted urban bird surveys in Baltimore.

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Lets face it, bats get a pretty bad rep. Many times in the media they are portrayed as scary, blood sucking, rabid creatures. Only about 1% of bats are believed to carry the rabies virus. And quite a few species can be pretty darn cute!

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Bat myths busted

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Bats tend to get off on the wrong wing with us humans. So in honor of National Bat Week, we're clearing up some myths about the world's only flying mammal.

For starters, bats are not nefarious creatures, as they're often portrayed around Halloween, said Rob Mies, executive director of the Michigan-based Organization for Bat Conservation. ( Read more about efforts to better bats' reputations.)

They're actually altruistic, Mies said, and have been known to share food with other bats. Vampire bats, for instance, will regurgitate blood for bats who didn't get to feed.

National Geographic caught up with Mies at the Orlando Science Center's Bats: Myths and Mysteries exhibit-which was supported by his organization-to debunk some of the most persistent bat legends.
They vant to suck your blood.
Vampire bats weigh only two ounces, and while these Central and South American natives have been known to bite people, they primarily feed on cattle in a way Mies compares to a mosquito.

"They lick about a spoon's worth of blood, and have an anticlotting enzyme in their saliva that helps keep the blood flowing," he said. (See " Vampire Bats Have Vein Sensors.")

That enzyme is being used to develop anti-blood-clotting medication called ... wait for it ... draculin.
They're "blind as a bat."
This one is particularly untrue: Bigger bats "can see three times better than humans," Mies said.

They're also sensory masters: The large ears of small bats help them echolocate, or use sound waves that bounce off objects like a natural sonar. (See "'Whispering' Bat Evolved to Trick Prey.")
Bats get stuck in your hair.
It might be the way bats fly that make them look like they're attacking your head.

Bats hang upside down from their roosts, so the small fliers need to drop down to "get some lift and start to flap," Mies said.

So though it may appear the animals are swooping down on you, they're not. (Related: " 7 Bug and Spider Myths Squashed.")

"There's no bat that makes a nest," Mies added-and certainly not in your coiffure.

Mies doesn't mind if you think bats are blind or have hair fetishes, but "when people think that bats aren't worth anything, that's the biggest problem."

For instance, "bats are one of the key seed dispersers to regenerate a healthy rain forest," Mies said.

When fruit bats eat, the seeds are spread via guano, a spiffy word for bat poop. A 1999 study showed that 300 plants species rely on Old World fruit bats to spread, and these bats "have the potential to disperse seeds hundreds of kilometers."

Enjoy bananas? Avocados? Margaritas? Thank a bat. Like bees, bats are pollinators, Meis said, and the U.S. Forest Service says that bats are responsible for the pollination of 300 fruits plus agave, which is used to make tequila. Cheers to that. (Related: " Beyond Bees: 4 Surprising Facts About Pollination.")

Last, the Center for Biological Diversity credits bats with providing "nontoxic pest-control services totaling $3.7 billion to $53 billion per year," with each bat chowing down on a couple of thousand bugs every single night.

"They're so important economically to us, it's shocking," Mies said.
All bats are rabid.
Both the Organization for Bat Conservation and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that of bats captured for testing, only 5 to 6 percent test positive for rabies.

Since sick bats are more likely to be caught, the percentage is likely lower in the overall bat population. ( Watch celebrities Ben Affleck, Amy Adams, and Zack Snyder talk about why it's important to help bats.)

That said, as with any wild animal, don't handle bats unless it's necessary.
Bats are an evil nemesis.
Nope ... bats have an evil nemesis: white-nose syndrome.

This cold-loving fungus grows on U.S. bats while they hibernate, causing them to use up their body fat so they starve before the winter is over, Mies said.

According to the Organization for Bat Conservation, white-nose syndrome has killed 5.7 million bats in the northeastern U.S. since 2006. (See "Bats May Be Wiped Out by Fungus in U.S. Northeast.")

One way to help bats is by putting up a bat house: They'll have a place to live, and you may never have to buy mosquito repellent again.
Tell us-what do you want to know about bats? Follow Liz Langley on Facebook and Twitter.

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6 Bat Myths Busted: Are They Really Blind?

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Bats tend to get off on the wrong wing with us humans. So in honor of National Bat Week, we're clearing up some myths about the world's only flying mammal. For starters, bats are not nefarious creatures, as they're often portrayed around Halloween, said Rob Mies, executive director of the Michigan-based Organization for Bat Conservation.

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Fruit Bat - Family Pteropodidae

Description

The Fruit Bat falls into the category of the Megabat and sometimes they are called the Flying Fox in some locations. There are many differences in their size from one location to the next. Due to that variation these bats are often mistaken for many different types rather than being identified as the same.

For example some Fruits Bats are no more than two inches long. Others though are more than 16 inches in length. Some of them only weigh an ounce or two and others weigh in at a couple of pounds. The overall wing length of the Fruit Bat can be more than five feet. These bats have large eyes and they also have excellent vision.

Anatomy

In fact, the Fruit Bat is said to have the best overall vision of all bat species. They use their vision in conjunction with their sense of smell so that they are able to find their food sources. These senses also serve to help them avoid dangerous situations. They are a big type of bat and they are said to be among the most unique of the more than 1,200 species that have so far been identified.

The Fruit Bat have the best overall vision of all bat species.

The Fruit Bat has some sharp teeth that allow it to penetrate the skin of the fruits. They also have very long tongues that unroll when they are feeding. When they aren't eating the tongue rolls back up. It is tucked away internally around the rib cage rather than remaining in the mouth.

The shape of the wings on Fruit Bats can be very different based on location. Many experts believe that this type of anatomy difference has to do with the fact that they live in different areas and have different types of fruit trees that they eat from. The wings may be certain designs to help compensate for wind and other elements in their natural environment.

Evolution

Since most species of bats consume insects, the Fruit Bat is one that people are interested in. It is believed that they turned to eating in such a manner in order to help them survive. Circumstances could have warranted them deciding to consume a different type of food source in order to compensate for not enough insects being around.

The evolution process though is one which can be very complex. We simply don't have enough information to make accurate determinations. Experts are hopeful though that one day they will find additional clues that put it all into perspective for them.

Behavior

The very long wings of the Fruit Bat do much more than just allow it to fly. They also allow them to stay warm during roosting. They wrap up in those wings to conserve their body heat. They live in colonies that are very large in size because they feel safer with numbers.

Inside of each colony of Fruit Bats though you will find various sub colonies. Each of them has one male and approximately eight females. They form very close bonds with their sub groups.

Habitat and Distribution

There are locations throughout the world where the Fruit Bat is able to successfully thrive. They tend to live in areas that offer them plenty of food. Where you find thick forest regions with lots of fruit trees, you can be confident they are in abundance. Most of them live in warmer climates where they can take advantage of various fruits that will grow throughout the year.

They may have to travel for long distances during certain times of the year in order to find food.

They may have to travel for long distances during certain times of the year in order to find food. They will make the journey back to their roost though before the sun comes up. Sometimes such efforts don't leave the Fruit Bat much time at all to find lots of food though.

When the Fruit Bat roosts during the day, they do so high up in the trees. This gives them darkness and it also protects them from various predators. They may hide in crevices and other dark spaces as well. They will typically stay close to bodies of water.

Diet and Feeding Habits

They use both vision and smell to find food.

There are hundreds of known types of fruits that grow on plants and trees that the Fruit Bat is able to consume. They don't eat all of the fruit though like so many people believe that they do. Instead, they use their teeth to crush into the fruit. Then they will consume the nectar.

They use both vision and smell to find food. There is one known subspecies though that is believed to rely on echolocation to find their sources of food. With a Fruit Bat they can either linger in air and eat or they can land and eat it. The larger they are in size though the more difficult it is to consume food without landing first.

Reproduction

Once mating has occurred they will carry the young in their bodies for about six months. The females will give birth to only one young at a time. It is going to be fully dependent upon her as the wings aren't strong enough until they are six weeks old for flying.

The young will stay with their mother, even when she is out looking for food. They will cling to her body with claws that allow them to effortlessly remain in place. The Fruit Bat won't take part in mating when they are struggling for habitat or to find food. It is believed this is a natural process for them that allows them to ensure overpopulation doesn't occur in any given area where they live.

Flying Foxes Video!

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Predators

Due to the location where the Fruit Bar lives they don't have too many natural predators. Sometimes they do encounter them though depending on their location. Various types of birds including the hawk and eagle can attack them while still in flight. Sometimes in the trees they may be eaten by snakes or weasels.

Sometimes in the trees they may be eaten by snakes or weasels.

In some areas the Fruit Bat lives very close to humans. Therefore it is possible for house cats to get them as well. In fact, some people don't even know they have bats living in their trees until they end up finding their cat carrying one around with them.

Humans are also predators of the Fruit Bat. People that realize they have such creatures living in their trees take measures to get rid of them. These bats can get into the attic or other areas of the home as well. Usually a professional exterminator is called to remove them and to clean up after them.

Humans that want the fruit from these trees to themselves also don't want the Fruit Bats around. However, it is important for humans to realize that the Fruit Bat helps to create more fruit by dispensing the seeds. When they fly around they will spit them out all over the place.

Fruit Bat Infographic!

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The Fruit Bat falls into the category of the Megabat and sometimes they are called the Flying Fox in some locations. There are many differences in their size from one location to the next. Due to that variation these bats are often mistaken for many different types rather than being identified as the same.

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The body of the bat is one that has fascinated researchers for centuries. They have webbing that creates their wings. These wings are in place of any forelimbs. The limbs of the bat usually feature two sharp claws. They have a shorter claw which is similar to a human thumb. There are actually bones in the wings that work like fingers. They are very flexible which allows the bat to have a full range of movement with ease.

The wings are mainly made up of cartilage but it doesn't contain very much calcium in it.

Due to the anatomy of the bat, they are believed to be the only actual flying animal. Other animals including the flying squirrel really only glide. The body of the bat is one that is designed for it to be able to use senses to find prey, to communicate, and its wings to fly around. They are certainly very peculiar with their nocturnal ways and the way in which they sleep.

The wings are mainly made up of cartilage but it doesn't contain very much calcium in it. The tips are able to bend without the wings tearing or being damaged. There is a flat section in the middle that allows for plenty of support to be offered to the wings. This is also very flexible so it can be bent in all directions. There is skin covering these finger like wing bones. They skin is very elastic and it is able to stretch.

The wings of bats are thin when you compare them to birds. As a result they are able to have a wider range of movement and they can be faster. Should tears occur the body has the ability to repair itself. The wings have Merkel cells on them and this is why they are so sensitive. This also found on human fingertips.

Some species have quality vision, and they are able to detect ultraviolet lighting.

All bats have very tiny teeth that are razor sharp. They can easily bite through the skin of fruits or prey. They also have a very long tongue that they use for eating, drinking, and pollination. They can roll that tongue up around their rib cage too when not using it. Bats have one way valves in their arteries so prevent the blood from flowing backwards. This is why they are able to hang upside down with the blood rushing to their heads.

The eyes of the bat will vary depending on which species you happen to be talking about. The category of microbats are very small and they aren't well developed. They do have some vision though so myths that bats are blind is false. Some species of bats have quality vision, and they are able to detect ultraviolet lighting. They are able to rely on excellent hearing and smell to make up for vision pitfalls.

The hearing and communication mechanism of the bat is found in the inner ear. Not all of the bat species have it but most of them do. This is called echolation and it allows them to hear and to communication through vibrations. Other animals with this ability include the dolphin.

This echolation system provides the bat with detailed information about what is going on around them in their environment. They can find prey in complete darkness due to this ability. Therefore even bats that don't see well are still able to find their prey and to survival without difficulty.

The entire body of the bat is covered with fur. This helps to keep it warm enough for survival. They also have very short legs with knees. They claws on their feet are very strong and that is what they use to allow them to hang upside down while they sleep. They have a small dot like nose but they have an excellent ability to smell with it.

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The body of the bat is one that has fascinated researchers for centuries. They have webbing that creates their wings. These wings are in place of any forelimbs. The limbs of the bat usually feature two sharp claws. They have a shorter claw which is similar to a human thumb.