The only mammal that is able to fly, the bat is also one of the most widespread and varied animals in the world. With around 1,200 different types living today, they represent the second largest order of mammals, only ranking behind rodents. Bats are divided into two primary groups: megachiroptera, or megabats, and microchiroptera, or microbats.
Megabats typically do not rely on echolocation, as microbats do. They subsist on nectar, pollen, and fruits. Species include:
Megabats typically do not rely on echolocation, as microbats do. They subsist on nectar, pollen, and fruits. Species include:
- Black flying fox
- Dyak fruit bat
- Dusky fruit bat
- Eastern tube nosed bat
- Giant golden-crowned flying fox
- Greater and lesser short-nosed fruit bats
- Panay giant fruit bat
- Pygmy fruit bat
- Spectacled flying fox
- Spotted-winged fruit bat
- Straw-colored fruit bat
- Talaud flying fox
- Ghost bat
- Kitti’s hog-nosed bat, the smallest in the world (6-inch wingspan, less than .1oz in weight)
- Lesser horseshoe bat
- Northern ghost bat
- Seychelles sheath-tailed bat
- Vampire bat