Regular bats are always grumpy. Only flying foxes (IMHO) have sociable personalities, and (I'm told) can even make decent pets.
(And also from the info I gleaned years ago, flying foxes are actually primates, instead of chiroptera, which might, along with their far different brain physiology, account for the differences in personalities.)
Apparently that theory is still being debated, but much of the genetic evidence is pointing away from a common primate ancestor in lieu of a megachiropteran ancestor. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat#Classification_and_evolution)
The theory was based on morphological traits, rather than genetic markers? But the neural characteristics are very similar to primates, as you mention. What's not mentioned in the Wiki article, but possibly in the cited references, is that evolution doesn't mind duplicating successful traits in non-related species.
True. (I read the Wiki article, too.) Flying foxes are so incredibly different from what we're familiar with re: "normal" bats, that they really do appear to be an entirely different species of animal, instead of a "kissing cousin" to little brown bats, vampire bats, hog-nosed bats, etc. They're quite intelligent, sociable and, in some situations, quite amusing in their relationship antics with other flying foxes. Sorry, but I just can't "feel warm & fuzzy" about a vampire bat, or any of the other little winged monsters. }|-/
Now now... I'm sure that, with a little kindness, the red ones could be brought to the negotiating table and turned into friends---just like the Red Chinese.
The bat picks remind me. The founder of Bat World bat rescue in the US is up for Animal Planet's Hero of the Year (http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/hero_of_the_year/2008/nominees/index.html). The voting is here. Bat rescuer is Amanda Loller (http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/hero_of_the_year/poll/poll.html). Award comes with a large grant. I thought you might be interested in giving the bat folks a nudge up the listings.
looking closer at the face here http://www.flickr.com/photos/battyden/2911089521/sizes/l/ I noticed two little pits or openings higher up on the nose then the nostrils... does anyone have any idea what those are?
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(And also from the info I gleaned years ago, flying foxes are actually primates, instead of chiroptera, which might, along with their far different brain physiology, account for the differences in personalities.)
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The theory was based on morphological traits, rather than genetic markers? But the neural characteristics are very similar to primates, as you mention. What's not mentioned in the Wiki article, but possibly in the cited references, is that evolution doesn't mind duplicating successful traits in non-related species.
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Little red flying foxes are bastards.
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(*hehehehe!!!!*)
Please pass the melamine... }:-o
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/battyden/2911089521/sizes/l/
I noticed two little pits or openings higher up on the nose then the nostrils... does anyone have any idea what those are?
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