Category: Mammals
These endangered great apes are one of two species making up the genus Pan, the other being the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). They are native to the Congo Basin in Central Africa and, unfortunately, political instability in this area has resulted in relatively few studies of the Bonobos in their natural habitat. Due to fossil evidence and genetic studies, some evolutionary biologists believe that Bonobos may be living examples of our distant ancestors. Bonobos are known for their matrilineal and relatively peaceful social structure.
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
