Life
In his latest book, The Genius Bat, ecologist Yossi Yovel elaborates on the crucial role these creatures play in ecosystems, from pollinating flora to controlling insect populations.
By Alex Wilkins
Merlin D. Tuttle
The charming images of bats starkly contrast the common perceptions that associate them with ominous myths and blame them for outbreaks of diseases like COVID-19, simply because of the viruses they carry.
However, Yossi Yovel, an ecologist from Tel Aviv University, advocates for a more compassionate view of these mammals in his new book, The Genius Bat: Understanding our most mysterious mammal. While it’s true that bats can host viruses, research indicates that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus did not originate from them directly. Regardless, Yovel emphasizes the critical ecological functions of bats, including the pollination of plants and the regulation of insect populations.
Merlin Tuttle
With over 1,400 species of bats, the diversity is astounding. Consider the adorable Honduran white bats (Ectophylla alba, pictured above), which are found in Central America. They create temporary sleeping tents by using large-leaved plants like heliconias.
Another remarkable species is Pallas’s long-tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina, shown below), known for its love of nectar. This bat has an elongated tongue that matches its body length, allowing it to reach deep into flowers, such as those of banana plants, and it can insert and retract its tongue up to ten times per second to gather nectar.
Brock Fenton
The initial image showcases the trefoil horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus trifoliatus), easily identifiable by its trefoil-shaped nose. Unlike most of its relatives, the trefoil prefers solitude, often resting alone on branches after their nocturnal insect-catching activities.
