Question

bat stats
the article \bats on the hunt\ discusses how scientists designed a unique investigation to research vampire bats. vampire bats make up a small percentage of all bat - species. study the infographic below to learn more about this unique group of flying mammals. then answer the questions that follow.
there are about 1,400 known bat species - thats about 20% of known mammal species!
vampire bats typically drink about 2 tablespoons of blood each night.
roughly 70 percent of bat species eat insects. only 3 species drink blood. the rest eat fruit or nectar, or prey on small animals.
the worlds largest bat, the giant golden - crowned flying fox, has an average wingspan of 5.3 feet.
the mexican free - tailed bat is the worlds fastest bat, with a top speed of 99 miles per hour.
32 bat species are critically endangered, or at very high risk of becoming extinct.
analyze it:

1. what is the diet of most bat species?
2. approximately what percentage of bat species are critically endangered?
3. in one night, a mexican free - tailed bat may travel up to 60 miles each way in search of food. how long would it take a bat to make the round trip if it traveled at its maximum speed?
4. how many cups of blood would a typical vampire bat drink if it fed 30 nights in a row? (one cup equals 16 tablespoons.)
5. about how many times longer is the average wingspan of the worlds largest bat compared with that of the worlds smallest bat?

take it further: research a species of bat, like the little brown bat or florida bonneted bat. then create an infographic that presents important and interesting facts about that species.
october 21, 2025

Explanation:

Step1: Identify diet from infographic

Roughly 70 percent of bat species eat insects.

Step2: Calculate percentage of critically - endangered species

There are about 1400 known bat species and 32 are critically endangered. The percentage is $\frac{32}{1400}\times100\approx2.29\%$.

Step3: Calculate round - trip time

The Mexican free - tailed bat may travel up to 60 miles each way, so the round - trip distance is $d = 60\times2=120$ miles. Its maximum speed is 99 miles per hour. Using the formula $t=\frac{d}{v}$, we have $t=\frac{120}{99}\approx1.21$ hours.

Step4: Calculate cups of blood

A typical vampire bat drinks 2 tablespoons of blood each night. In 30 nights, it drinks $2\times30 = 60$ tablespoons. Since 1 cup equals 16 tablespoons, the number of cups is $\frac{60}{16}=3.75$ cups.

Step5: Compare wingspans

Assume the smallest bat has a wingspan of about 5.4 inches. The world's largest bat has an average wingspan of 5.3 feet. Since 1 foot = 12 inches, 5.3 feet is $5.3\times12 = 63.6$ inches. The ratio is $\frac{63.6}{5.4}\approx11.78$.

Answer:

1. Insects
2. Approximately 2.29%
3. Approximately 1.21 hours
4. 3.75 cups
5. Approximately 11.78 times