Bats: A Fun and Educational Book for Kids with Amazing Facts and Pictures There are many different types of mammals in the order Chiroptera, including bats. They are the only mammals that can fly for extended periods of time, and they can be found anywhere on Earth outside the polar areas. More than 1,400 different species of bats have been identified, accounting for 20% of all known mammal species. Bats occur in a wide range of sizes and shapes, with some species having wingspan lengths of more than 5 feet and others barely a few inches. These are nocturnal animals, and many of them rely on echolocation to find food in the shadows. Bats consume a range of foods, such as insects, fruit, nectar, and, in the case of vampire bats, even blood.