Bat-ter Up!
This genus of virus hits a "home run" for danger; it includes the classical rabies virus and the Duvenhage virus.
Lyssavirus
Vampire bats have this "bloody" good protein in their saliva to act as an anticoagulant; it’s named for a Transylvanian count.
Draculin
This state's Howe Caverns was the "ground zero" for the first reported case of White Nose Syndrome.
New York
In the Bay State, more bats are submitted for rabies testing during this season than any other.
Summer
This iconic vehicle, named for its driver’s chiropteran alter-ego, is a staple of Gotham City’s streets.
Batmobile
Fruit bats serve as the main reservoir host for this virus that caused a major outbreak in West Africa from 2013 to 2018.
Ebola
In bats, instead of the thymus, the bone marrow is the primary production site for this type of immune cell.
T cells
Despite the name, WNS isn't caused by a cold; it's actually caused by this type of pathogen.
Fungus
This is the largest bat species found in Massachusetts.
Hoary bat
He was the Irish author of the classic 1897 novel that introduced the world's most famous bat-shifting vampire.
Bram Stoker
In 2020, bats flew into the spotlight as the species harboring the most distinct kinds of this "crown"-like family of viruses.
Coronaviruses
Some bats use their larynx to squeak for echolocation, while others use their tongues to make these sharp, rhythmic sounds.
Clicks
This "hibernation-heavy" season is when the pathogen spreads most.
This "tiny" species, common in MA, can consume up to 1,000 insects in a single hour.
Little brown bat
This "buzz-worthy" species from Thailand is officially the smallest bat in the world.
Bumblebee bat
This "Z" adjective describes Nipah virus, meaning it’s a disease that can make the jump from animals to people.
Zoonotic
While we use our elbows, bats use the ulnar version of these small bones to give strength to their joints.
Sesamoids
The most promising candidate for WNS is a vaccine given by this route of administration.
Oral
Massachusetts is home to exactly this many different types of bats.
9
Located in Texas, this cave holds the record for the largest bat colony on Earth.
Bracken Cave
Classical rabies is transmitted by bats only in this hemisphere.
Western
Many insectivorous bats use this special skill to track their prey through the air.
Echolocation
WNS reduced the population of the formerly abundant Little Brown Bat in Massachusetts by this percentage.
Over 99%
This local species is the smallest in the state and sounds like it’s wearing some very tiny shoes.
Eastern small-footed bat
While most bats are shy, this loud-mouthed species from Central and South America is officially the world's noisiest, capable of screaming (or "barking") at 140 decibels.
Bulldog Bat