Why we need these flying mammals.
Bats are among the most fascinating and highly beneficial animals.
Although bats have been historically regarded as pests and creatures of bad luck and darkness, today we have a better understanding of these amazing creatures. Of the thousands of species of mammals, a quarter are bats. Unlike gliding mammals such as the flying squirrel, all bats are capable of true flight. The wing of a bat is very similar to a human hand, with four fingers and a thumb, but a bat's fingers are elongated. Some scientists believe that bats evolved the ability to fly millions of years ago, originating from a shrew-like animal that glided from tree to tree.