Advocate

Observing International Bat Appreciation Day

Bats — Paniki in Filipino — are extraordinary mammals who have modified forelimbs that have evolved into wings. Belonging to the order Chiroptera, a term that stems from the Greek words chiro and ptera literally translating to “hand wings,” they are the only order of mammals capable of flight (Wund and Myers, 2005).

Bats can be classified as either frugivores or insectivores based on their diet. Frugivores are animals that predominantly feed on fruits and other plant components such as roots, stems, and seeds, whereas insectivores are animals that primarily feed on insects and are often diminutive in size, according to a 2005 article by Matthew Wund and Phil Myers for Animal Diversity Web.

MYTH BUSTED

Contrary to widespread belief rooted in the supernatural and also in pop culture hype, Bats do not spend eternity wreaking havoc upon unsuspecting victims.

Mammalian lifespans often correlate with body size: Smaller animals have shorter lifetimes, whereas bigger mammals live longer lives.

However, Bats are the only mammals who do not fit into this category, as they may live for more than 30 years in the wild — but definitely not for eternity!