Getting Around
True or False
Bats are able to use reflected sound (echoes) to identify what an object is, how big it is, and what direction it's going in.
True
This is called echolocation.
True or False
A bat's appearance is human-like. They look just like mini-vampires.
False
Bats are flying mammals with wings.
True or False
There are only about 100 kinds of bats in the world.
False
There are over 1,400 kinds of bats in the world.
True or False
Bats are just rats with wings.
False
True of False
A bat is the only mammal that can fly.
True
A mammal is an animal that can breastfeed it's young and give birth (rather than lay eggs).
True of False
Some bats use their eyes to find food, but not insects, to eat.
True
True or False
Bats that eat insects (insectivores) have short muzzles (noses), and sharp teeth.
True
True or False
Townsend's Big-eared bats curl their long ears over themselves when they sleep so they look like a ram's (male sheep) horn.
True
True of False
All bats drink blood.
False
Vampire bats, who live in Latin America, do drink blood to survive.
True or False
An average bat lives to be about fifty years old.
False
On average, bats live to be between ten and twenty years.
How do bats find insects to eat in the dark?
a. With their eyes
b. With their noses
c. Using echolocation to bounce off of objects, then listen for returning echoes.
d. Both a and c.
c. They use echolocation to bounce off of objects in the dark, then listen for the returning echoes.
How do nectar-eating bats (nectivores) look?
a. They have long, slender snouts (noses and mouths).
b. They have a scaly tongue.
c. They have small teeth.
d. All of the above.
d. All of the above.
Which of the following American bats has the longest ears?
a. Townsend's Big-eared Bat
b. Florida Bonneted Bat
c. Spotted Bat
d. Hoary Bat
c. Spotted Bat
True or False
Bats have good eyesight, similar to humans
True
Which of the following bats has a wing span of up to six feet?
a. Malayan Flying Fox
b. Florida Bonneted Bat
c. Spotted Bat
d. All of the above
a. Malayan Flying Fox
Where do nectar-drinking bats (nectivores) get the nectar?
a. From biting humans
b. From flowers
c. From biting farm animals
d. Both b and c.
b. From flowers. Because of this, bats are important to pollination.
What do an insect-eating bat's ears look like?
a. They are small
b. They are large
c. They have a scoop-like form that sticks out well above the head to allow better hearing.
d. Both b and c
d. Both b and c.
Which of the following bats can be heard by humans?
a. Lesser Long-nosed Bat
b. Hoary Bat
c. Florida Bonneted Bat
d. All of the above.
c. Florida Bonneted Bat
Which of the following statements about bats is true:
a. Bats live upside down.
b. Bats usually carry rabies.
c. Bats usually have Covid-19.
d. Because they drink nectar, bats are important to pollination.
e. All of the above.
d. Because they drink nectar, bats are important to pollination.
Bats can come in the following colors.
a. black
b. gray
c. red
d. all of the above
d. all of the above
Describe echolocation, which bats use to get around in the dark.
Bats make very high-pitched sounds through their mouths or noses which bounce off of objects in their path, then wait for the returning echo.
What is a tragus and what is it for?
A tragus is a sword-shaped piece of skin located in front of the ear canal. It's used to direct sounds into the ear for prey location and navigation (moving around).
Name three facts about the Hoary Bat.
Are beautiful.
Have blunt, round noses, small eyes, and small ears.
Have multi-colored fur.
Eat mostly moths, but also flies, mosquitoes, beetles, small wasps, and more.
Wrap their hairy tale membrane around themselves for warmth.
Often give birth to twins.
Name at least two myths about bats not discussed above.
Bats turn into vampires or vampires turn into bats.
Bats get tangled in people's hair on purpose.
Bats are evil.
Of the five bats featured in your handout, which is the largest insect-eating bat in North America.
The Florida Bonneted Bat is the largest insect-eating bat in North America.