Why do bats come out at night?
Bats are active from dusk to dawn. Do you know why bats come out at night? Or what if the bats come out during the day?
We have already talked about why bats sleep on their heads and some other curiosities about bats. Also recently, news of a giant bat found in the Philippines went viral .
But today we will answer another interesting question. Why do bats come out at night?
Bats hunt at night so as not to compete
Why don’t bats come out during the day? One of the theories that explains why bats come out at night is to avoid having to compete with birds . They have adapted so well to nocturnal life, that you don’t have to go out during the day and fight for food with them.
In fact, scientists believe that the birds pushed the bats to be nocturnal. Birds such as swifts and swallows that eat insects are in direct competition with bats.
They also avoid going out during the day to protect themselves from predators, such as hawks, who like bats.
Another unproven theory that explains why bats only come out at night is because they can’t stand so much heat. The sun’s rays would raise your body temperature. Although we will talk about this theory later.
Although most only come out at night, there are bats that hunt during the day. Why do some bats come out during the day?
bats that come out by day
Of the 1,400 species of bats in the world, a small minority are diurnal.
Among the species of bats that come out during the day, we find the Philippine flying fox, (the giant bat ) and the Samoan flying fox.
The Samoan flying fox leaves early in the morning and in the late afternoon in search of food.
A 1995 study found that Samoan bats avoided the hottest hours, but appeared frequently during the day. These observations overturned the belief that bats are nocturnal to avoid increasing their temperature.
On another island, São Tomé Island, northeast of Gabon, Noack’s roundleaf bats were observed flying during the day. As there are no predatory birds on that island, the bats are not in danger and can come out during the day to feed.
Bats balance the ecosystem
Bats are often misunderstood animals. But they help keep the ecosystem in balance.
Bats pollinate plants and prevent insect infestation. Bats can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes per hour, the equivalent of their body weight, preventing an overpopulation of insects.
They are creatures that do a lot for us. So we must respect them, never touch them or get close to them. In this case, experts recommend handling them with a glove or calling the corresponding authorities in case of an emergency.
Something else on our curious planet
Bats are not blind as many think. They use echolocation to orient themselves during flight. You can read more here: Did you know that the bat is capable of hearing the footsteps of an insect?
When some of the vampire bats get sick they take emergency measures. Discover this in: These 5 animals are isolated to avoid epidemics .
And finally, did you know that the animal that flies the fastest is not a bird? It is the Brazilian tailless bat .
