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Na m e : ___ _
Directions:Date:Read the article. Then, categorize the information by listing it in the correct
box below.Reading Comprehension • Saddleback Educational Publishing ©2002 3 Watson, Irvine, CA 92618•Phone (888)SDL-BACK•www.sdlback.com
About 1,000 varieties of bats exist. Although they make up
nearly one-quarter of all mammal species, few people have
ever seen a bat because they are nocturnal, meaning they
are most active during the night. During the day, bats often
sleep upside down in roosts they create in caves and other
structures.
Bats have furry bodies, sharp claws, sharp teeth, and wings.
They are the only mammals capable of flight. Their leather-
like wings allow them to swoop through the darkness in
search of insects and moths.
Although many bats are insectivores, or insect eaters, many
also dine on fruit, pollen, reptiles, fish, and small animals.
Bats find their way through the darkness by making high-
pitched squeaks and clicks. The sounds they make bounce
off nearby objects enabling them to sense the size, distance,
and direction of the object based on the return of echoes.
This is called ultrasonic echolocation. Because of this ability,
it is said that bats have the most acute hearing of any
terrestrial animal.Diet
Special Characteristics
Body Parts