Category: Mammals
Like all lemurs, this easily recognized primate is native to the island of Madagascar. They are omnivorous, diurnal, and the most terrestrial of the lemur species. They are highly social and may live in female dominated groups of up to 30 individuals. Their species name, catta, makes reference to their feline form and purring vocalizations reminiscent of domestic cats.
Bats: The Only True-Flying Mammal
Bats, the only mammal capable of true flight, are not blind - their eyes are just fine, thank you very much. But instead of eyes, most bats rely on an incredibly fine-tuned sense of hearing when they fly and hunt. Using a technique called echolocation, they emit high-pitched calls (usually above the range of human hearing), using the echos that are reflected back to them as a means of navigation and locating objects. The ears, auditory cortex, and (in a few cases) even noses of some bats are extraordinarily specialized for echolocation; there are even bats that have adapted the frequency of their calls to frequencies above or below what their favorite prey can hear!
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
