🦇 As the @WHO reaches its findings on the zoonotic origins of the coronavirus, @jhjanicki and @SimonScarr explain why bats make such ideal hosts for disease-causing viruses tmsnrt.rs/382UG8Q
Illustrations by @CatherineTai5 1/7
Illustrations by @CatherineTai5 1/7
Why bats?
Bats are a group of flying mammals, with more than 1,300 species in 20 families. They make up approximately 20% of all mammal species and are found all over the world except for the Arctic, the Antarctic and a few oceanic islands 🥶 2/7
Bats are a group of flying mammals, with more than 1,300 species in 20 families. They make up approximately 20% of all mammal species and are found all over the world except for the Arctic, the Antarctic and a few oceanic islands 🥶 2/7
The universe of bats 👇 3/7
Apart from diversity, other traits that make bats suitable as virus hosts include their size and longevity.
Bats have relatively long life spans for their body size, which can make it easier for viruses to persist as chronic infections are more common 4/7
Bats have relatively long life spans for their body size, which can make it easier for viruses to persist as chronic infections are more common 4/7
Why bats are important ❗️
Bats provide many beneficial ecosystem services. Some bats play important roles such as plant pollination and seed dispersal. Bats can pollinate more than 500 species of plants including bananas, dates, mangoes and avocados 🥑 5/7
Bats provide many beneficial ecosystem services. Some bats play important roles such as plant pollination and seed dispersal. Bats can pollinate more than 500 species of plants including bananas, dates, mangoes and avocados 🥑 5/7
Conservation
More than 200 bat species (~15%) in 60 countries are considered threatened with extinction and more than 20 are critically endangered.
In addition, eight bat species have been documented as having gone extinct in the recent past 6/7
More than 200 bat species (~15%) in 60 countries are considered threatened with extinction and more than 20 are critically endangered.
In addition, eight bat species have been documented as having gone extinct in the recent past 6/7
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