When you look at this animal, you might think it is a bird. It can fly. It has wings. It must be a bird?
But it is not. It is a bat. A bat is not a type of bird. It is a mammal.
A mammal is a kind of animal. Mammals do not have feathers. Mammals do not have beaks. Most mammals do not lay eggs.
Dogs are mammals. Horses are mammals. People are mammals too.
Bats are special mammals. They are the only mammals that can fly.
Their wings are not like birds. They have arms and fingers. A membrane stretches over them and helps them fly. It is like skin.
Bats do not lay eggs like birds. They give birth to live pups. They are tiny when they are born. But they grow quickly. They can fly and hunt after one month!
They are nocturnal animals. They sleep in caves or in trees during the day. They roost in big groups. You might hear them squeak at each other. It is how moms and pups talk.
All bats have little fangs like other mammals. They use these teeth to help them eat. Some bats eat fruits. Some bats eat small animals.
Bats can hear well. They use their ears to help them see. First, they make a noise. Then, they listen. They can hear the echo when the sound bounces off objects. That's how they locate things around them.
Bats are amazing mammals. They are difficult to see. They fly when it is dark. Have you ever seen a bat?