21 Rare Species Of Bats You Probably Didn’t Know Existed

Although current events might make you think differently, bats are really amazing animals. They are the only mammals that can fly, yet a quarter of all mammals are bats. There are more than 1300 species of them. And if you think they’re not good, you’re wrong: They’re great at killing pests, and thanks to all the insects they eat, the use of pesticides is reduced. In the US alone, farmers save millions of dollars because of them.

There’s more: many bats eat nectar, and in doing so, they pollinate plants: over 700 species, many used for food or medicine. They also disperse the seeds, which helps in reforestation. And scientists have studied vampire bats saliva and used it to develop medicines for blood clots and strokes.

Check out below some amazing and bizarre-looking species of bats that you probably didn’t know about.

1. Buettikofer’s Epauletted Fruit Bat