Did you know that bats are the only mammal capable of true flight? They are also one of the only mammals known to consume blood! Bats are fascinating creatures, and fun to learn about. They are found in regions spanning all across the globe, varying in looks, size, diet, navigational traits, and more. Bats are certainly worth a study or two, and can actually teach you a lot about animal understanding and tolerance.

For example, bats have been pushed out of their natural habitats and forced into urban areas due to human over-development; as a result, they are frequently regarded as pests, rodents, and nuisance animals.

But the truth is, bats are an essential part of our surrounding ecosystem, and they play an integral role in mosquito and insect control in our parks and backyards every night. If you are tuned-in and ready to learn about bats, you need to start with the basics. Continue reading to learn the classification and taxonomy of bats.

What are Bats?

Bats are classified by 9 categories in terms of taxonomy. In order from biggest to smallest, these categories include kingdom, phylum, subphylum, class, order, suborder, family, genera, and species. There are two suborders of bats, Microchiroptera Megachiroptera. There are 16 “families” of Microchiroptera bats, but only 1 family of megabats called Pteropodidae. The Pteropodidae includes Old World Fruit Bats and Flying Foxes. And even more interesting, there are 187 “genera” of bats, and over 950 species!

According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), this is the taxonomy of bats is…

I. KINGDOM: Animalia

II. PHYLUM: Chordata

III. SUBPHYLUM: Vertebrata

IV. CLASS: Mammalia

V. ORDER: Chiroptera

VI. SUBORDER: Microchiroptera, Megachiroptera

VII. FAMILY: Noctilionidae, Pteropodidae, Antrozoidae, Vespertilionidae, Rhinopomatidae, Mystacinidae, Craseonycteridae, Molossidae, Emballonuridae, Nycteridae, Megadermatidae, Rhinolophidae, Mormoopidae, Phyllostomidae, Natalidae, Furipteridae, Thyropteridae, Myzopodidae

VIII. GENERA: 187 is too many! Click here for a complete list.

IX. SPECIES: Over 950! Click here for a list.

Indianapolis Bat Removal and Control

Call 317-535-4605 for affordable and safe bat removal services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We are DNR licensed and insured bat removal and control technicians with over 30 years of experience in the bat control industry. We offer bat removal, prevention, exclusion, proofing, structural damage repairs, attic restorations, inspections, free estimates, discounts, and more! Call 317-535-4605 to get started toward a bat-free future, today.