BatDino

Bats are the only flying mammals and amazing acrobats in the dark. They use echolocation to find their way around at night: By emitting high-frequency sounds, they can detect the echoes of objects, such as insects, and thus precisely locate their prey. This ability makes them excellent insect catchers that devour large numbers of pests. However, there are also species that eat nectar, fruit or even small vertebrates such as fish or birds. Despite their reputation as “scary” animals, bats are extremely valuable from an ecological point of view. Not only do they help control insects, but they also contribute to the pollination of plants and the dispersal of seeds. The horseshoe bat is native to Europe, Asia and Africa and prefers hidden, safe roosts such as caves, crevices or abandoned buildings. It feels particularly at home in warm, well-protected environments where it can sleep peacefully during the day before going hunting at night.

Specimen in the Bionicum: Nuremberg Zoo

Bild Credit: Prof. emeritus Hans Schneider (Geyersberg), CC BY 3.0