FLYING MAMMALS (Chiroptera) Qn. What are flying mammals?

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• FLYING MAMMALS (Chiroptera) Qn. What are flying mammals?  These are mammals that fly.

         Examples of flying mammals 

          Bats 

          Note

• Bats are the only mammals that can fly.

          Characteristics of flying mammals 

• They fly 
• They have a fold skin attached to the fore limbs.
• Bats are active at night and rest during day time. 

Qn.    How are bats able to fly?

• They have a fold skin attached to their fore limbs that enable them to fly.

Qn.    Why are bats regarded as mammals but not birds yet they can fly?

• Bats have mammary glands while birds do not have mammary glands.
• Bats feed their young ones one breast milk while birds do not feed their young ones on breast milk.

Qn.     What name is given to animals that become active at night and rest during day time?

          Nocturnal animals.

          Groups / types of bats 

• Vampire bats (blood sucking bats)
• Insect eating bats 
• Fruit eating bats 

(a)      Blood sucking bats

          These are bats which suck blood from other animals. 

Note:

–        Blood sucking bats suck blood from animals like cattle,pigs, buffalo, elephants etc.

• Insect eating bats 

          These are bats that fed on insects.

• Fruits eating bats

          These are bats that fed on fruits from trees. 

Qn.    How are echoes important to bats?

• Echoes enable bats to locate their food.
• Echoes enable bats to dodge obstacles while moving.

 Importance of bats in the environment  – Fruit eating bats help in seed dispersal.

• Insect eating bats help to feed on harmful insects in the environment.

         A diagram showing a bat.