This book introduces young readers to the wrinkle-faced bat, the rare fruit-eating bat from the family Phyllostomidae. Easy-to-read text examines the wrinkle-faced bat's biology, size, behavior, and dietary needs, and reproduction and pup development are introduced. An anatomy diagram helps readers identify body parts. Also covered is the bat's habitat, and a detailed map shows where in the world it lives! Readers will learn about threats to the bat including environmental issues and predation. Bolded glossary terms, phonetic spellings, and an index enhance readability for young chiropterologists. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
This book introduces young readers to the wrinkle-faced bat, the rare fruit-eating bat from the family Phyllostomidae. Easy-to-read text examines the wrinkle-faced bat's biology, size, behavior, and dietary needs, and reproduction and pup development are introduced. An anatomy diagram helps readers identify body parts. Also covered is the bat's habitat, and a detailed map shows where in the world it lives! Readers will learn about threats to the bat including environmental issues and predation. Bolded glossary terms, phonetic spellings, and an index enhance readability for young chiropterologists. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
There are more than 1,300 species of bats—or almost a quarter of the world’s mammal species. But before you shrink in fear from these furry “creatures of the night,” consider the bat’s fundamental role in our ecosystem. A single brown bat can eat several thousand insects in a night. Bats also pollinate and disperse the seeds for many of the plants we love, from bananas to mangoes and figs. Bats: A World of Science and Mystery presents these fascinating nocturnal creatures in a new light. Lush, full-color photographs portray bats in flight, feeding, and mating in views that show them in exceptional detail. The photos also take the reader into the roosts of bats, from caves and mines to the tents some bats build out of leaves. A comprehensive guide to what scientists know about the world of bats, the book begins with a look at bats’ origins and evolution. The book goes on to address a host of questions related to flight, diet, habitat, reproduction, and social structure: Why do some bats live alone and others in large colonies? When do bats reproduce and care for their young? How has the ability to fly—unique among mammals—influenced bats’ mating behavior? A chapter on biosonar, or echolocation, takes readers through the system of high-pitched calls bats emit to navigate and catch prey. More than half of the world’s bat species are either in decline or already considered endangered, and the book concludes with suggestions for what we can do to protect these species for future generations to benefit from and enjoy. From the tiny “bumblebee bat”—the world’s smallest mammal—to the Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox, whose wingspan exceeds five feet, A Battery of Bats presents a panoramic view of one of the world’s most fascinating yet least-understood species.
