RSPB Spotlight Bats

by Nancy Jennings

Spotlight Bats will provide up-to-date and exciting information to an audience already keen on nature and interested to know more about these fascinating mammals by detailing the biology, diversity, evolution, natural history, behavior, and ecology of bats, as well as their interactions with humans and folklore. These tiny, harmless mammals are frequent visitors to our homes and gardens yet, due to their speed, size and nocturnal / crepuscular habits, are extremely difficult to get a good look at and are little understood.

There are 1,240 species of bat in the world; bats make up around 20 per cent of all mammal species, but the taxonomic focus of Spotlight Bats will be three common and relatively easily identifiable species (Pipistrelle, Noctule and Long-eared Bat), and three more unusual ones (Daubenton's bat, Barbastelle and Greater Horseshoe Bat). Other bat species of interest, including some of the more charismatic ones (e.g. vampire bats, fishing bats, bumblebee bats, fruit bats, etc.) will also be described.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

Published December 4, 2018

Reviews

[Richard Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bats. Fascinating.

[Phoebe James · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’ve found my new special interest.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realised out of my favourite animals, I have heaps of shark books but none on bats and that my knowledge was seriously lacking, so luckily my eldest got me this for Christmas and it was a great introduction to the subject. Really touched on everything just enough but with a real focus on UK bats.

There’s a lot of extensive information for those who want it here and a lot to learn which was mostly pretty easy to digest if not to retain all the information, good to have it at hand when necessary.

The sheer amount of incredible pictures was great as well.

I look forward to reading another book on the subject and attending my first bat meeting now I’ve joined a bat group because why not start 2026 with a bang?