Nature watch: flightless young and meticulous mother bats

Abstract

Bats are placental mammals that have achieved true flight. After mating and fertilisation, the egg is implanted in the wall of the uterus and the foetus undergoes development over a gestation period. After birth, the young are protected and given shelter, suckled, and possibly instructed before weaning and eventual independence. Within this period, bats show considerable variation in behaviour which is generally linked to climate and feeding habits. This article explains the behaviour associated with different breeding systems in different climatic regimes.