There is a popular belief that bats are blind, due to their enviable ability to move, by echolocation, which allows them to orient yourself perfectly even at night. However, is it true that bats are blind? The sense of vision of these winged mammals is different from that of the human being, likewise, they have other skills that allow them to survive very efficiently.
Do you want to know how bats see? In this article on our site we will talk in depth about their vision and the incredible abilities of these animals, read on!
Characteristics of bats
There are more than 1000 species of bats in the world, all with unique characteristics. However, these species share certain attributes, such as their size, which can vary between 30 and 35 centimeters in length, and their weight, which does not exceed 3 or 4 grams. However, there are certain exceptions, such as the Philippine flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), which can reach 1.5 meters in length.
The body of bats is covered with short fur that helps them withstand low temperatures. In addition, the front fingers of these animals are attached to a very thin membrane that allows them to easily take flight.
Feeding varies according to the species. Some types of bats eat only fruits, while others prefer insects, small amphibians, mammals, birds and some are even part of the animals that feed on blood.
They live practically anywhere, except in areas where temperatures are very low. They are most commonly found in tropical and temperate environments, where they settle in trees and cavess, although they also take refuge in cracks in the walls and hollow logs.
How do bats see?
Bats have one of the most impressive communication systems in nature, they have an ability called echolocation, which allows them to visualize the different objects thanks to low frequency sounds. The mechanism of echolocation is complex. Bats have been observed to be able to differentiate between incoming and outgoing signals. Thanks to this, they send and receive informationsimultaneously, similar to what happens when a person hears his own voice through echo.
How do bats see? Largely through this echolocation system, made possible by various adaptations anatomical located in the ears and larynx, to which is added the extraordinary spatial orientation they have. The animal emits an ultrasound that originates in the larynx and is expelled through the nose or snout. The ears then pick up the sound waves that bounce off surrounding objects, helping the bat orient itself.
There are several types of echolocation, but bats use high-cycle echolocation: allows obtaining information about the movement and location of a prey. They emit this sound continuously while listening to the frequency of the received echo.
Despite this great ability, there are insects that have developed adaptations that make it difficult for their predators to locate them, since they are even capable of canceling out ultrasounds and not producing echoes. Others are able to generate their own ultrasounds to confuse these flying mammals.
Are bats blind?
Despite the stories and myths surrounding bats about their blindness, you may be surprised to learn that these mammals are not blind, on the contrary, they can see even better than other mammals, although they do not surpass the capacity of human beings.
However, they are the only mammals capable of seeing polarized sunlight and using it to navigate. In addition, the vision of these animals allows them to fly long distances and orient themselves, since it is impossible to use echolocation for this, so they only use it to travel short distances in the dark.
In the past, it was believed that the eyes of bats only had rods, photoreceptor cells that allow them to see in the dark. Today it has been shown that, despite the small size of their eyes, they also have cones, so they have the ability to see during the day. This does not mean that their lifestyle is nocturnal, so they are sensitive to changes in light levels.
Have you ever heard the phrase "blind as a bat"? Then you know it's wrong, because bats aren't blind and they also rely on both their eyes and echolocation to orient themselves and perceive what's going on around them.
