Where Bats Live

SCIENCE CONCEPT:

Bats can be found in almost all habitats except extremely hot deserts and the cold polar regions. Species are more diverse in the warmer latitudes. Only one insect-eating species can be found in northern Canada. About 150 species are found, along with several non insect eating bat species, in some tropical areas near the equator.

STUDENT OBJECTIVE:

The student will demonstrate through making a world map the diversity of species that are found around the world.

OVERVIEW:

OVERVIEW: The student will draw a world map and label the map with the types of bats that are found in the various parts of the world. The labeling of the map will also include the name of the countries where the bats live.

PREPARATION TIME:

20 minutes.

LESSON TIME:

30 minutes.

TEACHER PREP:

Gather books with world maps showing the bat species population. Have enough books so that students can see them easily during the assignment.

WORDS TO KNOW:

species

diversity

habitat

mammals

Antarctica

TEACHER TEXT:

Bats have lived on the Earth for about 50 million years. There are nearly 1,000 species varying in size, color, body features, habitat, and diet living in all parts of the world except for most of the Arctic and all of Antarctica. The most diversity is found in South and Central America, while the most numbers are found in Africa. Forty-three different species are found in the United States alone. Bats make up one fourth of all mammal species and are second in diversity only to rodents. More bats are found in the tropics than any other mammal.

Bats are expert fliers. They have gone beyond the gliding and parachuting abilities of flying squirrels, lemurs, and possums. They are capable of true flight. Of the nearly 4,000 mammal species on earth, bats are the only mammals capable of powered flight.

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Last modified: Sat Aug 23 14:04:12 PDT 1997