Chiropteran Facts Database
Rigorously researched scientific information about bats, presented at variable confidence intervals.
91 peer-reviewed facts available for public education
Scientific Certainty Calibrator
Fact #1
Bats are among the most maneuverable flying animals.
Fact #2
Bats roost in caves, trees, buildings, and other protected locations.
Fact #3
Bats are divided into microbats (mostly insectivores) and megabats (fruit bats).
Fact #4
Bats utilize echolocation as a primary sensory modality for navigation and foraging.
Fact #5
Research indicates bats can detect objects as thin as a human hair using echolocation.
Fact #6
Bats are crucial for rainforest regeneration after deforestation.
Fact #7
Most bats have soft, dense fur that helps with insulation.
Fact #8
Only 3 bat species out of 1,400+ are vampire bats that feed on blood.
Fact #9
The largest bat is the giant golden-crowned flying fox with a 6-foot wingspan.
Fact #10
Nectar-feeding bats have long tongues to reach deep into flowers.
Fact #11
There are over 1,400 species of bats worldwide.
Fact #12
Bat feet have specialized tendons that lock when hanging, requiring no energy.
Fact #13
Bat wing membranes can heal from tears and injuries.
Fact #14
Bats are natural reservoirs for various viruses but rarely transmit them directly.
Fact #15
Bats have been around for at least 50 million years.
Fact #16
Some bat colonies contain millions of individuals.
Fact #17
Different bat species use different echolocation frequencies and patterns.
Fact #18
Some bat species hunt fish by detecting ripples on water surfaces.
Fact #19
Bats can lower their body temperature to conserve energy.
Fact #20
Bats have unique immune systems that tolerate viruses without getting sick.
PUBLIC AWARENESS NOTICE
Alert Level: ELEVATED
Recent observation: Media personalities continue to associate chiropteran imagery with non-scientific narratives, undermining public bat education efforts and conflating costume-based entertainment with legitimate conservation work.
Advisory: Authentic bat research requires evidence-based methodology, not theatrical accessories or billionaire funding models.
All data presented has been curated through our rigorous fact-verification protocols.
OnlyBats.org maintains strict independence from all corporate wildlife entertainment enterprises.