Bats: A World of Science and Mystery

by M. Brock Fenton, Nancy B. Simmons

There are more than 1,300 species of bats―or almost a quarter of the world’s mammal species. But before you shrink in fear from these furry “creatures of the night,” consider the bat’s fundamental role in our ecosystem. A single brown bat can eat several thousand insects in a night. Bats also pollinate and disperse the seeds for many of the plants we love, from bananas to mangoes and figs.
           
A World of Science and Mystery presents these fascinating nocturnal creatures in a new light. Lush, full-color photographs portray bats in flight, feeding, and mating in views that show them in exceptional detail. The photos also take the reader into the roosts of bats, from caves and mines to the tents some bats build out of leaves. A comprehensive guide to what scientists know about the world of bats, the book begins with a look at bats’ origins and evolution. The book goes on to address a host of questions related to flight, diet, habitat, reproduction, and social Why do some bats live alone and others in large colonies? When do bats reproduce and care for their young? How has the ability to fly―unique among mammals―influenced bats’ mating behavior? A chapter on biosonar, or echolocation, takes readers through the system of high-pitched calls bats emit to navigate and catch prey. More than half of the world’s bat species are either in decline or already considered endangered, and the book concludes with suggestions for what we can do to protect these species for future generations to benefit from and enjoy.

From the tiny “bumblebee bat”―the world’s smallest mammal―to the Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox, whose wingspan exceeds five feet, A Battery of Bats presents a panoramic view of one of the world’s most fascinating yet least-understood species.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Nature, Science

240 pages, Hardcover

First published October 22, 2014

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a beautiful book with exceptional pictures and lay out (great for the coffee table) and filled with interesting facts, stories, and some humor. It does a great job of showcasing bats as the wondrous creatures that they are, tries to dispel some of the bad images they have due to ignorance, and brings up some good questions for future researchers/scientists to look into.

That being said, I would knock off half a point, to a 4.5, because of editing issues. Sometimes just little things: a misspelled word here or there, repeated words, etc. But when it happened it would be several times in a paragraph or two. In one spot, a biologist's inset story cut off mid sentence and never resumed any where. It just felt like no one actually read through the book before taking it to the printers....

[Lochness M · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow i love bats so much

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

While full of fascinating information and beautiful photos, the choice of dull red type on black background made photos captions a real strain to read - more light would have helped had it not been for reflection from the glossy paper, so I often just looked at the photo. Also this book could have benefited from an editor. For example, in hopes that there will be another edition:
p. 278 the end of the text is not there
page/para/line
p.87/para.1/penultimate line - Goggle should be (s/b) Google
110/last para/line 1 - soley s/b solely
115/1/7 - used s/b used in
153/3/3 - Koalin s/b Kaolin
163/5/4 - anfertilization s/b and fertilization?
171/2/7 - diet of blood diet?
180/1/12 - reproduce successful of selection...?
185/3/10 - such was s/b such as was
207/2/3 - Rabies is the..., is one of several layssaviruses s/b Rabies, the..., is one of several lyssaviruses
238/3/4 - rational s/b rationale