David Woodfall / Lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros) in magnesium mine, Shropshire, England, UK, April.

Robert Valentic / Short-nosed fruit-bat (Cynopterus brachyotis) roosting, Ko Chang Island, Thailand.

Paul Hobson / Leaf-nosed bat (Phyllostomidae sp), three nectaring on flower. Costa Rica.

Paul Hobson / Leaf-nosed bat (Phyllostomidae sp) flying towards Banana (Musa sp) flower to feed. Costa Rica.

Phil Savoie / White tent making bat (Ectophylla alba) roosting in Heleconia leaf, La Selva Field Station, Costa Rica.

Juergen Freund / Little red flying foxes (Pteropus scapulatus) flying from roosting tree at dusk, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia.

Juergen Freund / Australian freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnsoni) catching a Little red flying fox (Pteropus scapulatus) flying to drink from a watering hole, Kimberley, Western Australia.

Juergen Freund / Australian freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnsoni) trying to catch Little red flying foxes (Pteropus scapulatus) flying to drink from a watering hole, Kimberley, Western Australia

Juergen Freund / Large group of Little red flying foxes (Pteropus scapulatus) flying at dusk, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia.

Juergen Freund / Large group of Little red flying foxes (Pteropus scapulatus) flying at dusk, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia.

Juergen Freund / Colony of Little red flying foxes (Pteropus scapulatus) at roost, with several bats flying in, landing on others on a branch, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia.

Juergen Freund / Colony of Little red flying foxes (Pteropus scapulatus) leaving roost site, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia.

Juergen Freund / Wildlife carer wrapping a Spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) baby in blankets, Tolga Bat Hospital, Queensland, Australia.

Piotr Naskrecki / Angolan free-tailed bat (Mops condylurus) close up of teeth. Codzo Caves, Mazamba, Sofala, Mozambique. Controlled conditions

Piotr Naskrecki / Angolan free-tailed bat (Mops condylurus) close up of teeth. Codzo Caves, Mazamba, Sofala, Mozambique. Controlled conditions

Dietmar Nill / Slow motion clip of a Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) catching a moth in flight, Germany, captive.

Ingo Arndt / Epauletted bat head portrait {Epomops buettikoferi} Komeo NP, Ivory Coast

Ingo Arndt / Epauletted bat roosting {Epomops buettikoferi} Komeo NP, Ivory Coast

Huw Cordey / Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) emerging from Bracken Cave, Texas. Over 15 million bats are thought to live in this cave, making it the greatest concentration of mammals on the planet...

Nick Hawkins / Common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) exiting cave, Costa Rica, March 2014.

Nick Hawkins / Common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) roosting in cave, Costa Rica.

Alex Hyde / Lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) roosting in cave. Croatia. November.

Alex Hyde / Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) roosting in cave. Croatia. November.

Juergen Freund / Spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) feeding on nectar from flowers of the Golden penda (Xanthostemon chrysanthus), Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia. June. Second Place in the Man...

Juergen Freund / Tolga Bat Hospital volunteer handing Little red flying fox (Pteropus scapulatus) baby as it flaps her wings, Tolga Bat Hospital, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia. May 2015. Second Place in t...

Juergen Freund / Tolga Bat Hospital director Jenny Maclean rescuing, Spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) caught in barbed wire fence. Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia. April 2015. Second Place i...

Juergen Freund / Tolga Bat Hospital volunteer with Little red flying fox (Pteropus scapulatus) crawling over shoulder. Tolga Bat Hospital, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia. August 2014. Second Place in the M...

Juergen Freund / Little red flying-fox (Pteropus scapulatus) flying around and roosting in trees, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia. December. Second Place in the Man and Nature portfolio category of the Terr...

Juergen Freund / Paralytic tick (Ixodes holocyclus) with engorged body on human hand, this species affects many species, Spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) among them and infects them with a toxin that ca...

Juergen Freund / Little red flying fox (Pteropus scapulatus) roosting with baby, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia. May. Second Place in the Man and Nature portfolio category of the Terre Sauvage Nature Image...

Jabruson / Hammer Headed bats (Hypsignathus monstrosus) in gloved hand - live mist net catch for blood sampling in search of the unknown reservoir host for Ebola virus. Ebola outbreaks in Mbomo in 2003 killed 12...

Inaki Relanzon / Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rinolophus hipposideros) hibernating in Forat de l'Or cave in Terradets Canyon, Pyrenees, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain, December

Jussi Murtosaari / Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii) hunting a mosquito. central Finland, June.

Eric Medard / Bats (Microchiroptera) in flight under bridge, taken at night with infra red remote camera trap, Mayenne, Pays de Loire, France, August.

Paul Harcourt Davies,Paul Harcourt Davies / Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) hibernating in an Etruscan tomb, Podere Montecucco, near Orvieto, Umbria, Italy, November

Axel Gomille,Axel Gomille / Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus), flying, India

Juergen Freund / Spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) babies or bubs wrapped in cloth in the nursery at Tolga Bat Hospital, North Queensland, Australia, November 2012

Juergen Freund / Spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) babies or bubs wrapped in cloth and teats in mouths ready for feeding in the nursery at Tolga Bat Hospital, North Queensland, Australia, November 2012

Juergen Freund / Spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) casualty of paralytic tick (Ixodes holocyclus) bite being cared for on site of colony by Jenny Mclean, North Queensland, Australia, November 2012

Jabruson / Sundevall's Leaf-nosed Bats (Hipposideros caffer) in flight in forest roosting cave. Bai Hokou, Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, Central African Republic.

Mark Carwardine / A cloud of Straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) with an immature African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) flying amongst them, Kasanka National Park, Zambia, Africa

Mark Carwardine / Straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) flying at night, Kasanka National Park, Zambia, Africa

Mark Carwardine / A cloud of Straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) flying around daytime roost with others still hanging from branches, Kasanka National Park, Zambia, Africa

Mark Carwardine / Straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) flying over daytime roost Kasanka National Park, Zambia, Africa

Solvin Zankl / Schreiber's long fingered bat (Miniopterus schreibersi) in flight in cave, Grotta Monte Majore, Sardinia, Italy. Highly commended, Mammals category, GDT 2012 competition.

Eric Medard / Lesser Mouse Eared Bat (Myotis blythii) in flight in cave. France, Europe, August.

Eric Medard / Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus euryale) in flight in cave. France, Europe, August.

Eric Medard / Whiskered Bat (Myotis mystacinus) in flight low over water, drinking in flight. France, Europe, July.

Eric Medard / Natterer's Bat (Myotis nattereri) flying low over water to drink, with long-exposure star-trails. France, Europe, July.

Eric Medard / Bechstein's Bat (Myotis bechsteinii) in flight in cave. France, Europe, August.

Eric Medard / Bechstein's Bat (Myotis bechsteinii) in flight at night, mouth open to emit echolocating calls. France, Europe, September.

Eric Medard / Kuhl's Pipistrelle Bat (Pipistrelle kuhlii) in flight low over water, with splash from drinking in flight. France, Europe, May.

Eric Medard / Western Barbastelle Bat (Barbastella barbastella) in flight low over water, mouth open to emit echolocating calls. France, Europe, July.

Juergen Freund / Spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) babies swaddled up in cloth ready to sleep, Tolga Bat Hospital, Atherton, North Queensland, Australia. January 2008.

Juergen Freund / Crate of Spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) babies just arrived by plane from Brisbane after months of care, ready to be returned to the Tolga Bat Hospital for release back to the wild, A...

Juergen Freund / Spectacled flying foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus) inside enclosure, Tolga Bat Hospital, Atherton, North Queensland, Australia. January 2008.

Juergen Freund / Spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) babies swaddled in cloth ready to sleep, Tolga Bat Hospital, Atherton, North Queensland, Australia. January 2008.

Dale Sutton / 2020VISION / Adult Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentoni) flying over a weir, England, UK, September. 2020VISION Exhibition. Did you know? This species is know as the 'water bat', and catches insects from the water s...

Tim Laman / Blossom Bat (Syconycteris sp.). Possibly a new species present in the Foja Mountains and also widespread in the mountains of New Guinea but never described before now. Discovered by Kris Helgen. Papua...

Kim Taylor / Brown Long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) drinking from a lily pond , Surrey, UK. Overall WINNER of the Audubon Society of Greater Denver Share the View competition 2011

Simon Colmer / Noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula) Captive, UK

Juergen Freund / Fruit bats (Megachiroptera) flying out from the island where they roost during the day. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Kevin Schafer / Bats (several species) emerge from a cave at dusk. Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan, Mexico.

Solvin Zankl / Common big-eared / Leaf nosed bat (Micronycteris microtis) head portrait, La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Stephen Dalton / Pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus sp) in flight, controlled conditions

Stephen Dalton / Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrum-equinem) in flight, chasing moth prey, multiflash sequence of three images, UK

Stephen Dalton / Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) in flight chasing flying moth, UK, controlled conditions

Stephen Dalton / Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) portrait showing horseshoe shaped nose. Controlled conditions

Stephen Dalton / Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentoni) hunting over water, England, UK

Stephen Dalton / Greater false vampire bat {Megaderma lyra} in flight, carrying rodent prey, controlled conditions, from Asia

Philip Dalton / Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) flying from / to Bracken Cave and Echert James Bat Caves, Texas, USA

Philip Dalton / Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) flying from Bracken Cave and Echert James Bat Caves, Texas, USA

Philip Dalton / Red tailed hawk {Buteo jamaicensis} flying amongst and predating on Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) flying from / to Bracken Cave and Echert James Bat Caves, Texas, USA

Philip Dalton / Red tailed hawk {Buteo jamaicensis} flying amongst and predating on Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) flying from / to Bracken Cave and Echert James Bat Caves, Texas, USA

Stephen Dalton / Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum) flying, catching moth sequence, mulitflash, controlled conditions, from Europe

Stephen Dalton / Common pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus} flying towards insect prey at night, UK

Stephen Dalton / Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii) flying low over water, hunting, UK

Stephen Dalton / Greater horseshoe bat {Rhinolophus ferrumequinum} flight sequence, multiflash image, UK

Stephen Dalton / Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum) male in flight, Europe

Stephen Dalton / Pair of Common pipistrelle bats {Pipistrellus pipistrellus} in flight, UK

Stephen Dalton / Long-eared bat {Plecotus auritus} flying through meadow, UK

Barry Mansell / Neotropical Fruit Bat (Aritbeus hartii) in flight at night, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Wild Wonders of Europe / Lesniewski / Lesser mouse eared bat (Myotis blythii) colony roosting in cave, Bagerova Steppe, Kerch Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine, July 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Lesniewski / Lesser mouse eared bat (Myotis blythii) colony roosting in cave, Bagerova Steppe, Kerch Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine, July 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Lesniew / Colony of Lesser mouse eared bats (Myotis blythii) roosting in cave, some in flight, Bagerova Steppe, Kerch Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine, July 2009. WWE INDOOR EXHIBITION

Wild Wonders of Europe / Lesniewski / Lesser mouse eared bats (Myotis blythii) roosting in cave, Bagerova Steppe, Kerch Peninsula, Crimea, Ukraine, July 2009

Laurie Campbell / Common Pipistrelle Bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) hunting at twilight with silhouette of village in background, Berwickshire, Scotland, UK, June

Claudio Contreras / Jamaican fruit eating bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) captive, Punta Laguna, Otoch Ma'ax Yetel Kooh Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June

Kim Taylor / Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri) about to drink from the surface of a lily pond, Surrey, UK

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Two Lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros) roosting, Eastern Slovakia, Europe, May 2009

Kim Taylor / Common pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) juvenile, Surrey, England

Wild Wonders of Europe / Nill / Mehely's Horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi) flying carrying baby in cave near Nikopol, Bulgaria, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Nill / Mehely's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi) flying from cave, Bulgaria, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Nill / Juvenile Mehely's Horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus mehelyi) roosting in a cave near Nikopol, Bulgaria, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Nill / Mehely's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi) pregnant female flies from cave near Nikopol Bulgaria, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Nill / Juvenile Mehely's horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus mehelyi) roosing in cave, Bulgaria, May 2008