Bats avoid overheating through intermittent flying

Bats are remarkably versatile. Not only they the sole mammal that has mastered mystery of flight but also have ability to lower their body temperature reduce metabolic rate and conserve energy when drops. However, bats flying, is considerably higher, causing rise. Yet, little known about how prevent themselves from overheating during flight. Jinhong Luo Central China Normal University, China, Stefan Greif Yossi Yovel Tel Aviv Israel, colleagues Israel Thailand, decided monitor wild great roundleaf (Hipposideros armiger), which one largest insect-eating bats, taking short intermittent breaks between flights while hunt at night for moths, butterflies beetles.The team went out Satun cave in Thailand caught 18 using hand nets. Then, attached a small motion sensor equipped with GPS tracker backs 10 gently inserting tiny beneath skin simultaneously record as flew night. Ten days later, successfully relocated five original sensors by following signal, discovering four had recorded bats’ temperature, although two clearly showed manoeuvres. In addition, tagged eight remaining alone released animals 3×2×2 m3 room, letting them fly freely collect more detailed information mammal's manoeuvres temperature. Once experiments were complete, removed tags, re-released into wild.After analysing movements spent time laboratory, identified 55 bouts lasted 48 s. Between these flights, would stop flying take on perches. The researchers then compared activities measurements found experienced fastest rises highest temperatures, slower ended up cooler skins. those findings situation similar pattern. Also, checked temperatures both groups reached approximately 40°C, fortunately well below lethal level 44–45°C.The suspect used hunting may help avoid potentially lethally high temperatures. Additionally, perch foraging bouts, probably amount use, consume if continually searching prey. Now Luo, measured other could use same strategy find thrive different diets, such fruit or even scorpions, keep down performing most metabolically demanding activity known. Alternatively, scientists look smaller go catching insects, size impacts regulate wing.