There are more than 1,300 species of bats - or almost a quarter of the world's mammal species. But before you shrink in fear from these furry "creatures of the night," consider the bat's fundamental role in our ecosystem. A single ten-gram bat may eat several thousand insects in a night. Throughout the tropics and subtropics, fruit and nectar-feeding bats are also crucial to the lives of plants, providing both pollution and seed dispersal. Bats: A World of Science and Mystery presents these fascinating nocturnal creatures in a new light. Lush, full-color photographs portray bats in flight, feeding, and mating in views that show them in exceptional detail. The photos also take the reader into the roosts of bats, from caves and mines to the tents some bats make from leaves. A comprehensive guide to what scientists know about the world of bats, the book begins with a look at bats' origins and evolution. It goes on to address a host of questions related to flight, diet, habitat, reproduction, and social structure: Why do some bats live alone and others in large colonies? When do bats reproduce and care for their young? How has the ability to fly - unique among mammels - influenced bats' mating behavior? A chapter on biosonar, or echolocation, takes readers through the system of high-pitched calls bats emit to navigate and catch prey. More than half of the world's bat species are either in decline or already considered endangered, and the book concludes with suggestions for what we can do to protect these species for future generations to benefit from and enjoy. From the tiny "bumblebee bat" - the world's smallest mammel - to the Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox, whose wingspan exceeds five feet, Bats presents a panoramic view of one of the world's most fascinating yet least-understood species. -- from dust jacket.