A pygmy fruit-eating bat (Artibeus phaeotis) in Panama.
For over 60 years,Dr.
Merlin Tuttlehas been changing the public’s perception of a misunderstood mammal.
A pygmy fruit-eating bat (Artibeus phaeotis) in Panama.
There are over 1,400 bat species worldwide, making up one-fifth of the world’s mammal species.
Yet, many people are fearful of these animals due to common misconceptions.
Fear is the biggest risk to bats, Dr. Tuttle tells My Modern Met.
The Cuban flower bat (Phyllonycteris poeyi), Phyllonycteris poeyi, is endemic to Cuba. It forms large colonies in caves with up to a million or more in single caves. These bats feed on nectar, pollen, fruit and insects.
Educating humans is one of the best ways to help bats.
By letting their sweet personalities shine through, he helps the public perceive them in a different light.
People fear what they misunderstand.
An adult female dwarf bonneted bat (Eumops bonariensis) from Venezuela.
The images also show the rich diversity of bat species.
But for as much work as Dr. Tuttle has done, unfortunately, bats are still in danger.
This false myth leads to eradication that can be harmful to the environment.
A portrait of a ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) in Australia in 1998.
These programs, coupled with habitat loss and climate change, can have dire consequences.
So the next time you see a bat, you should thank this small mammal.
Or, better yet,build a bat houseto help give this flying friend a safe haven.
A dwarf dog-faced bat (Molossops temminckii) from Paraguay.
Dr. Merlin Tuttle has spent over 60 years educating the public about the importance of bats.
The Cuban flower bat (Phyllonycteris poeyi), Phyllonycteris poeyi, is endemic to Cuba.
It forms large colonies in caves with up to a million or more in single caves.
Hairy-legged vampire bat (Diphylla ecaudata) from Mexico. This species does not cause problems for people or for livestock. It feeds almost exclusively on the blood of birds.
These bats feed on nectar, pollen, fruit and insects.
An adult female dwarf bonneted bat (Eumops bonariensis) from Venezuela.
A portrait of a ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) in Australia in 1998.
A minor epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus labiatus minor) in Kenya.
A dwarf dog-faced bat (Molossops temminckii) from Paraguay.
Hairy-legged vampire bat (Diphylla ecaudata) from Mexico.
This species does not cause problems for people or for livestock.
An African sheath-tailed bat (Coeura afra) from a cave on the Mombasa Coast of Kenya.
It feeds almost exclusively on the blood of birds.
A minor epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus labiatus minor) in Kenya.
His portraits show the sweet, gentle nature of bats.
A lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) in Mexico.
An African sheath-tailed bat (Coeura afra) from a cave on the Mombasa Coast of Kenya.
A lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) in Mexico.
An adult male eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) in Florida.
An adult male eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) in Florida.
And highlight the diversity across the more than 1,400 species of bats worldwide.
A spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) in Utah.
They live in cave entrances where they form large, conspicuous colonies.
A spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) in Utah.
Tomes’s sword-nosed bat (Lonchorhina aurita) from French Guiana.
Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) in Texas.
A male wrinkle-faced bat (Centurio senex) from Belize.
Cave nectar bats (Eonycteris spelaea) are found throughout most of Southeast Asia where they are extraordinarily important pollinators of ecologically and economically important trees, including durian, petai, wild banana and mangroves. They live in cave entrances where they form large, conspicuous colonies. In the past their colonies sometimes included up to a million or more individuals, but except where protected, their numbers have declined alarmingly.
No one has any idea why these bats faces are so strange.
The species is probably not rare, but it is seldom caught by biologists studying bats.
A black bonneted bat (Eumops auripendulus) from French Guiana.
Tomes’s sword-nosed bat (Lonchorhina aurita) from French Guiana.
Related Articles:
Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) in Texas.
A male wrinkle-faced bat (Centurio senex) from Belize. No one has any idea why these bats faces are so strange. The species is probably not rare, but it is seldom caught by biologists studying bats.
A black bonneted bat (Eumops auripendulus) from French Guiana.
