The Weird and Wonderful World of Bats: Demystifying These Often-Misunderstood Creatures

Bats are among nature’s most misunderstood creatures, perhaps to their associations with vampires, rabies, or a sense of creepiness. Behavioral ecologist and science communicator Brokaw’s eminently accessible book shows that bats, as Earth’s only true flying mammals, are fascinating. Her book is packed with tidbits that might be new, even to enthusiasts. For example, some use their noses to echolocate; the males of some species sing to prospective mates; and some are important pollinators. Though similar to birds in many respects, their separate evolutionary path bespeaks some important differences, such as the structural contrasts between bird and bat wings. What’s stunning, however, is the sheer variety of distinctive elements: from sensory perception and diet to reproductive strategy, there’s enormous diversity in the world’s second-largest (after rodents) mammalian order.