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Bats
Bats form the largest groups of mammals in the world.  They are also the only flying mammal.  They have forelimbs that are webbed and developed as wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight.  Some species of bats have been detected flying over 50 miles per hour, while other species have been detected flying over 3,000 feet above ground in search of insect prey.
Bats do not flap entire forelimbs as birds do, instead they flap their spread out digits, which are very long and are covered with a thin membrane.
Bats cannot stand upright due to a very small pelvic girdle.  They hang upside down nearly all the time.  Blood does not rush to their head because they do not weigh enough for gravity to effect their circulation.
Bats have vital ecological roles such as pollinating flowers and dispersing fruit seeds.  They are also vital in keeping the insect population down, as most species are insectvores, and can eat as much as 1,200 insects in a hour, 2,000 - 6,000 insects in a night, including flies, mosquitoes and gnats. They also help farmers by eating insects such as the tomato horned worm, corn earworm and many kinds of beetles.
Bats use a radar ability called echolocation. Bat echolocation is a perceptual system where ultrasonic sounds are emitted specifically to produce echoes. By comparing the outgoing pulse with the returning echoes the brain and auditory nervous system can produce detailed images of the bat's surroundings. This allows bats to detect, localize and even classify their prey in complete darkness. At 130 decibels in intensity, bat calls are some of the most intense airborne animal sounds.
Most bats live between 10 and 20 years.  Some species typically live to 30 years old.
During winter, some bats migrate to warmer climates.  Some hibernate.  During hibernation, a bat's heart pumps about 11 beats a minute. In contrast, when bats are awake and flying, their heart pumps over 1,000 beats a minute.  That's quite a difference!
Contrary to popular belief, bats will not attack people.  They are very small and gentle animals.  They also rarely carry rabies.  About 0.5% of bats carry rabies.

Did You Know?

The oldest known bat was recently recaptured in Europe at 41 years of age.