The Only Flying Mammal: Experts Call the ‘Mobile Virus Library’ – Is It True?

What class does a bat belong to?

Bats are of the order Chiroptera, Chiroptera is the second largest group of mammals after rodents, bats are the only mammals that have evolved true flying ability, none other, there are 19 genera and 185 species in total, except for some islands in the polar and oceanic regions, distributed throughout the world, with the most bats in tropical and subtropical regions. Most bats sleep during the day and feed mainly at night.

What kind of lifestyle do bats have?

Hang upside down is a lifestyle. Lifestyle refers to the life characteristics produced for survival. As you know, bats cannot use their legs to walk, they can only rely on the power of their wings. So bats cannot take off like other flying creatures that rely on the power of their legs. Generally, small birds take off by jumping up and leaving the ground, then flapping their wings to fly; large birds and insects also take off by jumping first and then flying. Bats adopt a more energy-saving method, as you know, they hang upside down in the air, and when they let go of their hands, they can glide. Isn't it more energy-saving? That's why bats usually return to hang in the air.

How many kinds of viruses do bats have on their bodies?

Scientists have found more than 4100 types of viruses on nearly 200 bats, with more than 500 coronaviruses. Bats are one of the largest virus libraries, but they show strong tolerance for most viruses, which may be related to their flying ability and special immune system.