Friday, 10 Oct 2025
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA
logo logo
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
  • 🔥
  • Trump
  • VIDEO
  • House
  • White
  • ScienceAlert
  • Trumps
  • Watch
  • man
  • Health
  • Season
Font ResizerAa
American FocusAmerican Focus
Search
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
Follow US
© 2024 americanfocus.online – All Rights Reserved.
American Focus > Blog > Tech and Science > Endearing photos of bats show clever adaptations like long tongues
Tech and Science

Endearing photos of bats show clever adaptations like long tongues

Last updated: October 3, 2025 3:12 am
Share
Endearing photos of bats show clever adaptations like long tongues
SHARE

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

Trefoil Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophus trifoliatus) are commonly found in Southeast Asia, where they inhabit understory forests. They roost alone in foliage and hunt by listening for insects passing by their feeding spots.

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.

Ectophylla alba Photo credit: Merlin Tuttle

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.

Glossophaga soricina feeding from a banana flower

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.

See also  Government Agencies, Universities, Nonprofits Pause Critical Work Over Trump Administration Executive Orders


TAGGED:AdaptationsbatsCleverEndearingLongPhotosShowTongues
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article The Mediapro Studio, Telemundo Studios Forge Strategic Alliance for U.S. Hispanic Content The Mediapro Studio, Telemundo Studios Forge Strategic Alliance for U.S. Hispanic Content
Next Article I’m Jealous of A$AP Rocky’s Purse Collection I’m Jealous of A$AP Rocky’s Purse Collection
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Posts

Where to watch Chelsea vs. Real Betis, live stream: Europa Conference League prediction, odds, lineups

Real Betis vs. Chelsea: Europa Conference League Final Preview The Europa Conference League final is…

May 27, 2025

Catching up With Dries Van Noten, on the Eve of His Brand’s New York Store Opening

Dries Van Noten, the renowned fashion designer, has recently opened a new flagship store in…

April 20, 2025

How to spot the 2025 Lyrids and Eta Aquarids meteor showers

The Eta Aquarids meteor shower as visible in Sri Lanka in 2024Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto/ Getty Images…

April 15, 2025

OpenAI is building five new Stargate data centers with Oracle and SoftBank

On Tuesday, OpenAI revealed its ambitious plans to establish five additional AI data centers throughout…

September 23, 2025

The global plastics crisis explained in 6 charts

Plastic pollution has become a global crisis that is threatening both the environment and human…

August 8, 2025

You Might Also Like

Chloé’s Latest Show Took Over UNESCO—and Ended With the Most Elegant Dinner in Paris
Lifestyle

Chloé’s Latest Show Took Over UNESCO—and Ended With the Most Elegant Dinner in Paris

October 10, 2025
Physicists are uncovering when nature’s strongest force falters
Tech and Science

Physicists are uncovering when nature’s strongest force falters

October 10, 2025
In a First, Pig Liver Helped a Cancer Patient Survive for More Than a Month
Tech and Science

In a First, Pig Liver Helped a Cancer Patient Survive for More Than a Month

October 10, 2025
Canary Islands’ VFX Studios Hit Global Stage With Work on ‘The Accountant 2,’ ‘The Morning Show’ and ‘Gangs of London’
Entertainment

Canary Islands’ VFX Studios Hit Global Stage With Work on ‘The Accountant 2,’ ‘The Morning Show’ and ‘Gangs of London’

October 10, 2025
logo logo
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


Explore global affairs, political insights, and linguistic origins. Stay informed with our comprehensive coverage of world news, politics, and Lifestyle.

Top Categories
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Sports
  • Tech and Science
Usefull Links
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA

© 2024 americanfocus.online –  All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?