this post was submitted on 04 May 2024
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Bats

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Bats are cool

Bats are the only true flying mammals. There are over 1,400 species of bats, and they can be found on nearly every part of the planet. Not only are they cute, they are also important...

Studying how bats use echolocation has helped scientists develop navigational aids for the blind. Without bats’ pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control we wouldn’t have bananas, avocados, mangoes, agave, or cacao… that’s right, bats bring us tequila and chocolate!

Found a bat in need of help?

Celebrate bats with us!

Our community's mascot is Baxter. Baxter is an Egyptian fruit bat that was cruelly kept alone and confined to a small cage for 12 years before being rescued by a bat sanctuary. You can read the full story by clicking on his name.

Our rules for posting and commenting, besides the rules defined here for lemmy.world, are as follows:

Everyone should feel welcome here. Hateful or bigoted language will not be tolerated.

Don’t post anything a fruit bat would not approve of.

Please don't hate on bats in this community (this includes all of your edgy covid humor).

Bats don’t like spam.

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 7 months ago (3 children)

Is that 20% of the number of species of mammals, or 20% of the number of individual mammals?

[–] Spyro 10 points 7 months ago

It has to be the former. I would be shocked if bats even outnumbered humans and rodents combined.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago (1 children)

1400 species, about 20% of all mammals. So the former.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Also, rodents make up about 40% of all species of mammals.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago

Also, squirrels make up 60% of all rodents... that I love.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago

I need an answer on this.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Would they survive without mosquitoes? Because I want mosquitoes to be extinct, but I'm ok with bats.

[–] ickplant 2 points 7 months ago

I am not sure on the answer. They do eat plenty of other bugs, but mosquitos are a big part of their diet. I want to put a bat house on my house so they eat the annoying fuckers.

[–] shalafi 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Just want to say I love this sub and appreciate the constant posts. Thank you.

I want to build bat boxes, so any tips would be welcome. I rarely see messages here, so you can use "blade runner blues at gmail".

[–] shalafi 1 points 7 months ago

Got the plans! Thanks!

Those a simpler than I thought, even I can handle that.