The Genius Bat

Step into the shadows and listen... 'Brings the poster-species of Halloween out of the shadows, so we can better appreciate the flying mammal.' National Geographic Usually, you’ll hear a bat before you see it – the gentle flutter of wings, their high-pitched chatter as they dive and roll for insects. Only occasionally do you spot them, a blur against the evening sky. With nearly 1,500 known species, bats are among the most successful mammals on earth. From the tiny bumblebee bat – which could rest comfortably on your index finger – to the giant golden-crowned flying fox with its 1.5-metre wingspan, they are evolutionary marvels, adapted to practically every environment. The Genius Bat brings to life these amazing creatures, as well as the obsessive and sometimes eccentric people who study them. From muddy rainforests to star-covered deserts, from guest houses in Thailand to museum drawers full of fossils in New York, this is an eye-opening account of a remarkable animal. 'A marvellous book.' Nancy Simmons, Curator of Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History 'Fascinating... Yovel clearly explains bats' vital contributions to a healthier planet.' Merlin Tuttle, author of The Secret Lives of Bats and founder of Bat Conservation International

Step into the shadows and listen... 'Brings the poster-species of Halloween out of the shadows, so we can better appreciate the flying mammal.' National Geographic Usually, you’ll hear a bat before you see it – the gentle flutter of wings, their high-pitched chatter as they dive and roll for insects. Only occasionally do you spot them, a blur against the evening sky. With nearly 1,500 known species, bats are among the most successful mammals on earth. From the tiny bumblebee bat – which could rest comfortably on your index finger – to the giant golden-crowned flying fox with its 1.5-metre wingspan, they are evolutionary marvels, adapted to practically every environment. The Genius Bat brings to life these amazing creatures, as well as the obsessive and sometimes eccentric people who study them. From muddy rainforests to star-covered deserts, from guest houses in Thailand to museum drawers full of fossils in New York, this is an eye-opening account of a remarkable animal. 'A marvellous book.' Nancy Simmons, Curator of Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History 'Fascinating... Yovel clearly explains bats' vital contributions to a healthier planet.' Merlin Tuttle, author of The Secret Lives of Bats and founder of Bat Conservation International

An awe-inspiring tour of bat world by the world's leading expert With nearly 1500 species, bats account for more than twenty percent of mammalian species. The most successful and most diverse group of mammals, bats come in different sizes, shapes, and colors, from the tiny bumblebee bat to the giant golden-crowned flying fox. Some bats eat fruit and nectar; others eat frogs, scorpions, or fish. Vampire bats feed on blood. Bats are the only mammals that can fly; their fingers have elongated through evolution to become wings with a unique, super-flexible skin membrane stretched between them. Their robust immune system is one of the reasons for their extreme longevity. A tiny bat can live for forty years. Yossi Yovel, an ecologist and a neurobiologist, is passionate about deciphering the secrets of bats, including using AI to decipher their communication. In The Genius Bat, he brings to vivid life these amazing creatures as well as the obsessive and sometimes eccentric people who study them-bat scientists. From muddy rainforests to star-covered night deserts, from guest houses in Thailand to museum drawers full of fossils in New York, this is an eye-opening and entertaining account of a mighty mammal.

An awe-inspiring tour of bat world by the world's leading expert With nearly 1500 species, bats account for more than twenty percent of mammalian species. The most successful and most diverse group of mammals, bats come in different sizes, shapes, and colors, from the tiny bumblebee bat to the giant golden-crowned flying fox. Some bats eat fruit and nectar; others eat frogs, scorpions, or fish. Vampire bats feed on blood. Bats are the only mammals that can fly; their fingers have elongated through evolution to become wings with a unique, super-flexible skin membrane stretched between them. Their robust immune system is one of the reasons for their extreme longevity. A tiny bat can live for forty years. Yossi Yovel, an ecologist and a neurobiologist, is passionate about deciphering the secrets of bats, including using AI to decipher their communication. In The Genius Bat, he brings to vivid life these amazing creatures as well as the obsessive and sometimes eccentric people who study them-bat scientists. From muddy rainforests to star-covered night deserts, from guest houses in Thailand to museum drawers full of fossils in New York, this is an eye-opening and entertaining account of a mighty mammal.