#Top10 Bat discoveries of the 2010s! (That is, why bats are obviously the most amazing creatures on the planet)
1. Bats have microscopic hairs on their wings that let them feel airflow and avoid stall
(Sterbing D'Angelo et al. 2011 PNAS)
Photo: A. Hyde
1. Bats have microscopic hairs on their wings that let them feel airflow and avoid stall
(Sterbing D'Angelo et al. 2011 PNAS)
Photo: A. Hyde
2. Brazilian free-tailed bats jam conspecific sonar to compete for food.
(Corcoran and Conner, 2014 Science)
Image: N. Hristov
(Corcoran and Conner, 2014 Science)
Image: N. Hristov
3. Brazilian free-tailed bats are the fastest powered fliers on the planet!
(McCracken et al. 2016 Roy. Soc. Open Science)
(McCracken et al. 2016 Roy. Soc. Open Science)
4. Bats consume enough insect pests to radically alter corn ecosystems, saving farmers billions each year
Maine and Boyles, 2015 PNAS
Photo: Molly Jacobson
Maine and Boyles, 2015 PNAS
Photo: Molly Jacobson
5. Pitcher plants use acoustic beacons to attract bats so they deposit their guano inside them!
Schöner et al. 2015 Current Biology
Schöner et al. 2015 Current Biology
6. Bats have the fastest muscles of any mammal in their larynx, allowing them to make 200+ echolocation calls PER SECOND!
Elemens et al. 2011 Science
Photo: Michael Durham
Elemens et al. 2011 Science
Photo: Michael Durham
7. Fruit bats--long thought to be reliant on vision--actually do use echolocation, some by cracking their elbow joints
Boonman et al. 2014 Current Biology
Image: Jurgen Freund
Boonman et al. 2014 Current Biology
Image: Jurgen Freund
8. Hoary bats fly without echolocation, potentially to sneak up on mates!
Corcoran and Weller, 2018 Proceedings B
Image: Michael Durham
Corcoran and Weller, 2018 Proceedings B
Image: Michael Durham
9. Bat wings have specialized muscles that allow bats to dynamically control wing shape
Cheney et al. 2015 J. Roy. Soc. Interface
Cheney et al. 2015 J. Roy. Soc. Interface
10. The twisted tails of luna moths create a sensory illusion that throws bats off the hunt
Barber et al. 2015 PNAS
Image: Geoff Gallace
Barber et al. 2015 PNAS
Image: Geoff Gallace
Which one is your favorite bat discovery? Which discoveries did I miss? Here's to many more discoveries to come on nature's most mysterious and fascinating animals!
