According to many paleontologists and scientists, bats have been around for millions of years, even before humans inhabited the planet, and are some of the most fascinating creatures in the world. Although bats don’t have a great reputation in terms of public perception, they are actually really cool creatures. Curious about what makes them so cool? Check out these Incredible Facts About Bats You Probably Didn’t Know.

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• Bats are flying mammals.
• While others can glide, bats are the only mammals capable of continued flight.
• There are over 1000 different bat species.
• Bats are nocturnal (active at night).
• Bats can live for more than 30 years.
• These creepy creatures can fly at the speed of up to 60 miles per hour.

• Vampire bats can transmit rabies, making their bites potentially fatal.
• More than half of the bat species in the United States are listed as endangered.
• Bats are divided into two main groups: megabats, large bats that feed pretty much on fruits, and microbats, which eat insects, frogs, blood, fish, lizards, and birds.
• The bats that feed on frogs can tell the difference between safe and poisonous ones by listening to the male frog’s call.
• Mama bat can find her babies among millions of other bats by their unique scent and voice.

• Guano, or bat droppings are one of the richest fertilizers. Their droppings were also used in the civil war to make gunpowder.
• There are 3 species of vampire bats which feed solely on blood.
• Vampire bats have small and extremely sharp teeth which are capable of piercing an animal’s skin (humans included) without them even noticing.

• Some species of bats cannot see very well, while others can see long ranges. Some bats can even detect ultraviolet rays.
• The shape of the bat wing varies according to the speed and wind directions.
• Bats do not need water to survive.

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