{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "bat",
  "name": "Bat",
  "scientificName": "Chiroptera",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "Bats are the only mammals capable of true, powered flight, with wings formed from skin stretched between long finger bones. There are more than 1,400 species worldwide, ranging from tiny insect-eaters weighing a few grams to large fruit bats with wingspans over 1.5 m (5 ft). Most are nocturnal and many navigate and hunt using echolocation, eating insects, fruit, or nectar depending on the species. Bats live across the world except the polar regions, and some can live 20 to 30 years.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Chiroptera",
    "family": null,
    "genus": null
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.03,
    "lengthM": 0.1,
    "topSpeedKmh": 40,
    "lifespanYears": 25
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Chiroptera"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Varies (insects, fruit, nectar, blood)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Caves, forests, and urban roosts worldwide"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "Commonly 10–30 years depending on species"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "2 g to over 1 kg depending on species"
    },
    {
      "label": "Wingspan",
      "value": "15 cm to over 1.5 m (6 in to 5 ft)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Varies by species"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Worldwide except the polar regions and some remote islands; the only mammals capable of true flight.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa",
      "Asia",
      "Europe",
      "North America",
      "South America",
      "Oceania"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Chiroptera.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Chiroptera&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Bat.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bat/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bat/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}