this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2025
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Bats

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Bats are cool

Bats are the only true flying mammals. There are over 1,400 species of bats, and they can be found on nearly every part of the planet. Not only are they cute, they are also important...

Studying how bats use echolocation has helped scientists develop navigational aids for the blind. Without bats’ pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control we wouldn’t have bananas, avocados, mangoes, agave, or cacao… that’s right, bats bring us tequila and chocolate!

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Our community's mascot is Baxter. Baxter is an Egyptian fruit bat that was cruelly kept alone and confined to a small cage for 12 years before being rescued by a bat sanctuary. You can read the full story by clicking on his name.

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Bats all have one pup at a time, twins being a rare exception. All bat species are K-selected, meaning parent investment in their young is high. This means the juveniles are usually born more highly-developed, have higher survivorship, and are fewer in number. Humans are another example.

Each of those babies has its own mother, and each of the mothers knows exactly which baby is hers. They are incredibly spatially aware and good at remembering where they left their pup when they go out to hunt. They also recognize their pups through smell and sound.

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[–] kamenlady@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The cave with that distinct new baby smell.

[–] gibmiser@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago
[–] flango 8 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Why bats stay upside-down?

[–] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago

It keeps them away from predators and allows for quick takeoff. Their tendons lock in a way that make hanging effortless.

[–] Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 day ago