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Name: mleyba
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
Hope you can help. Do you know why bats hang upside down?


Replies:
Well, I didn't know much about bats myself, but I got a nice note from missy, who volunteered to answer this question. Thanks missy!

- topper
********************************
I'm not a scientist, but a cave tour guide, and study bats a bit. I'd like to say something on the bat question:

Bats, unlike most birds lack the ability to take to flight from the ground. (i.e. a hop or a running takeoff) They require (MOST require) a minimum of four inches to fall from a ceiling or limb to gain enough momentum to get flapping and into the air. Therefore, they have adapted themselves to "hanging around" when sleeping or resting. They can take to flight quite quickly that way, if startled or threatened.

missy


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