| Bats page 1 Introduction A bat looks somewhat like a mouse. At one time they were called a "flittermouse". This was because they were thought of as a flying mouse. Others thought of the mouse as a bird. bat The bat is more closely related to primates. Bats can fly like a bird. But, they do not have feathers, build nests, or lay eggs. Bats are mammals. Their bodies are covered with fur. They are born live and not hatched from an egg. There are almost 1,000 species of bats. They are different in size, color, body features, habitat and diet. They live in nearly every part of the world. The most unusual ones live in South and Central America. The most numbers are found in Africa. Flight Bats are fantastic fliers. They are able to truly fly. Bats are the only mammals able to have powered flight. A bat's body is made for flight. The neck is short, the chest is large and the stomach is narrow. In order to fly a body must have a wide, thin surface. It also needs the power to push through the air. This thin surface we call an airfoil in flight terms. The power to push we call propulsion. In a bat it is the wings that are both. | |
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