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Bats aren't as creepy as you think - here are 5 of the coolest species

Jul 21, 2016, 21:02 IST

A grey headed flying fox colony.Michael Pennay/Flickr

Bats can be found around the world, from Texas to Thailand. They make up a quarter of the world's known mammals. There are approximately 1,100 species of bats.

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Bats around the world are threatened by increasing habitat loss and in North America, they are threatened by white nose syndrome. This is a fungal disease that deteriorates bats' wing membranes and damages their muzzles, ears, and skin. White nose syndrome also awakens bats out of torpor (their form of winter hibernation) before they are ready. White nose syndrome now affects bats in at least 29 states and 5 Canadian provinces.

While a lot of people see bats as "scary" or "creepy," they play a vital role in their ecosystems. Bats help pollinate plants when they travel, they disperse seeds throughout forests, and their droppings even act as a fertilizer. Some even eat bugs and mosquitoes.

Below is a list of 5 of the most unique bat species. (Warning: you might actually like bats after reading this.)

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