The Mysterious Flying Mammal

Bats are the only mammals that are capable to fly. Bats can be divided into two types; fruit bats (frugivores) and insect bats (insectivores). Insectivores bats use echolocation to locate and hunt their prey while frugivores bats use their eyesight. Generally, the eyes of frugivores bats are larger while the insectivores bats have a smaller eyes compared to the body size.

Species: Rhinolophus trifoliatus; Locality: Endau Kota Tinggi, Johor; Photo by: Hanifridzuan

Bats are very important as pollinators and also as natural insect control. Some species of bats only occupied certain type of forest. All species of bats were protected in Malaysia and some species currently facing extinction. Even though bats are protected species, they are consumed by the local peoples in certain areas (as a food source and also for medical purposes).

Species: Nycteris tragata; Locality: Endau Kota Tinggi, Johor; Photo by: Hanifridzuan

Conservation efforts are inevitably essential for better understanding of the bats’ role in their natural habitats and to protect this wonderful creature for future generation.

p/s: Nycteris tragata listed as near threatened (NT) in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 2010 (Year assessed: 2008), the population trend of this species is decreasing.
Source: Kingston, T. & Meijaard, E. 2008. Nycteris tragata. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 01 May 2011.