Horseshoe Bat
Horseshoe Bat Introduction
Horseshoe bats are small to medium-sized bats that live in many warm regions in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Most of them have smooth, long fur that can be brown, black or bright orange-red.
Horseshoe bats get their name from their horseshoe-shaped nose leaf. This nose leaf helps them with echolocation. Their high-pitched shrieks and calls allow them to find food in even noisy urban areas. Horseshoe bats are used for food in some parts of Africa and Asia. They’re also used for medicine in eastern Asia.
Keywords to learn
Echolocation: Using sound and echoes to locate something
About Me
Hey Kids, my name is Handley the Horseshoe Bat and I am very happy to meet you. Learn more about me and my species @ https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
Key Data
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Order:Chiroptera.
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Lifespan:6 to 7 years.
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Class:Mammalia.
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Scientific name:Rhinolophidae.
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Mass:1 ounce or less.
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Length:1 to 4 inches.
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Region Found:Africa, Europe, Asia, and Pacific Islands.
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Population Status:Stable to endangered depending on species.
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Current population trend:Stable to endangered.
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Diet:Insects and spiders.
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Sexual maturity:1 year.
Horseshoe bats are not generally aggressive or dangerous however they can be if wounded and approached, and can be dangerous if bitten or in close contact as they can carry viruses. As you have just learned, horseshoe bats are known for their use as food and medicine.
Now that you know more about the horseshoe bat by learning the key data above, be sure also to check out the fun facts. When you are finished learning the facts, try answering the questions in the Q&A corner on the bottom right side of the page.
Download questions about the horseshoe bat here: Horseshoe bat (answers are on this page)
Teachers. For more in depth work sheets on microbats. Click on Kidskonnect Worksheets
Horseshoe Bat Fun Facts for Kids
- # 1. Horseshoe bats have very small eyes and poor eyesight. They have excellent hearing though and sophisticated echolocation.
- # 2. Horseshoe bats eat insects and spiders. They’re agile fliers and can duck and turn to catch prey.
- # 3. Depending on the species, some horseshoe bats live alone, while others live in colonies of up to 1,000 bats.
- # 4. Horseshoe bats are known to carry viruses, such as the viruses that cause Corona Virus’s and the diseases COVID-19 and SARS. Some viruses can pass to humans through tick bites; others can pass by consuming infected bat meat.
- # 5. Horseshoe bats are used as medicine in Africa and Asia. They (and their poop, guano) is used to treat everything from asthma to migraines to baldness.
Q&A Corner
- # 1. How can horseshoe bats be dangerous?
- # 2. What do horseshoe bats eat?
- # 3. How do horseshoe bats catch food?
- # 4. In what continents are horseshoe bats used for medicine?
- # 5. What type of virus could the horseshoe bat potentially carry?
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