Overview
Bats have long been the focus of fascination, and sometimes fear: they move faultlessly through the darkness and spend the day hanging upside down in gloomy caverns and cracks – most at home where humans are least comfortable. Bats also represent a hugely important, numerous and varied group, accounting for 20% of all mammal species worldwide. Covering their biodiversity, ecology and natural history, A Miscellany of Bats offers a hoard of insights into the lives of these creatures. For over a quarter of a century Brock Fenton and the late Jens Rydell collaborated on projects involving bats. Here they bring together a collection of stories and anecdotes about bat research, brought to life by stunning photographs of these animals in action. Key topics include flight and echolocation, diet and roosting habits, and the complex social lives of bats. Jens and Brock also address issues of conservation and the interactions between bats and people, ranging from matters of disease to bats’ role as symbols, and our fixation with vampire bats. They explore how echolocation and flight shape batkind, from their appearance to where they go and why. Overall, this book is an entertaining and personal vision of bats’ central place in the universe. More than 150 species are covered.
Full Product Details
Author: M. Brock Fenton ,
Jens Rydell
Publisher: Pelagic Publishing
Imprint: Pelagic Publishing
Weight: 0.836kg
ISBN: 9781784272944
ISBN 10: 1784272949
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 10 January 2023
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
A Miscellany of Bats is a well-written and interesting-and often absorbing-book, in which the authors convey their enthusiasm for studying this unique group of animals...Difficult concepts are simplified and the very readable text is largely accessible to general readers who might be interested in bats but have no particular background in either biology or natural history. -- Danny A. Brass, NSS News Fascinating and wonderful...I can't find any fault with this book. And would recommend it to anyone, with just about any level of existing knowledge of bats. -- Al Milano, Bat Detecting blog
A Miscellany of Bats is a well-written and interesting-and often absorbing-book, in which the authors convey their enthusiasm for studying this unique group of animals...Difficult concepts are simplified and the very readable text is largely accessible to general readers who might be interested in bats but have no particular background in either biology or natural history. -- Danny A. Brass, NSS News
A delightful read. The casual, first-person narrative invites the reader to experience learning about bats in a way that reflects the joy and enthusiasm of the venerable authors. The book is a testament to the fascinating lives of bats and to life-long friendships among bat biologist colleagues.--Winifred F. Frick, Bat Conservation International Fenton and Rydell, the 'power couple' of bat photography and ecology have created an up-to-date review of bat behavior and physiology with superb imagery.--Yossi Yovel, Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University Filled with fascinating and interesting facts about the world of bats, as the authors discuss many aspects of bat-related research, based on their own experiences acquired over many years, as well as research carried out by others around the planet.--Neil Middleton, Author of Social Calls of the Bats of Britain and Ireland, The Effective Ecologist, and Is That A Bat? This book is a visual and intellectual treat that will delight anyone interested in bats. Lavishly illustrated with amazing photographs, it shows us not only what scientists now know about bats, but also tells the story of bat research and the people who do it. This book brings the hard work and the thrill of scientific discovery -- and the bats themselves -- alive in a uniquely accessible and engaging way.--Nancy Simmons, Curator-in-charge, Department of Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History Two of the world's leading bat scientists, photographers and communicators illustrate the wonder of bats with clarity and beauty, drawing on a wealth of personal experiences over many decades and on recent research from across the world.--Gareth Jones, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol
Author Information
Brock Fenton is Emeritus Professor of Biology at the University of Western Ontario. He is Deputy Executive Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Science Publishing. Over his long career he has published widely on bats, from detailed research papers to books intended for the general reader. Jens Rydell was a Swedish scientist and noted bat photographer, writing more than a hundred scientific papers on bats and insects. Renowned as a great teacher and conservation advocate, he was awarded the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences conservation prize in 2017.
