Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

15th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Our despised heroes

Bats play an essencial role to ecosystems functioning. As they are incredibly diverse, with more than 1200 species worldwide, and their capability of flight (unique among mammals), they occupy a huge set of functions and habitats in nature unavailable to other animals. There are several species of fruit bats, nectar feeding bats, insectivorous bats and even carnivorous bats, which prey upon small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fishes. With these diverse feeding habits, bats are some of the most important pollinators, seed dispersers and pest supressers of nature. Some studies have already shown that the pest control service played by bats can reach 22,9 billion dollars annualy all over the world.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 04.2016
Date Uploaded: 11.2017
Photo Location: Riacho dos Machados, Brazil
Camera: Canon EOS 50D
Copyright: © Augusto Gomes