Bat
Costa Rica is home to an impressive variety of bat species, boasting around 113 different types, which is approximately 10% of the world's bat diversity. These bats play crucial roles in the ecosystem, such as pollinating flowers, dispersing seeds, and controlling insect populations. Notably, Costa Rica hosts the iconic white tent-making bat, which cuts and folds large leaves to create sheltered roosting sites. Additionally, the country is home to the vampire bat, which, despite its ominous name, has a fascinating role in medical research due to the anticoagulant properties of its saliva, potentially benefiting stroke and heart attack patients. This rich diversity and the ecological importance of bats make Costa Rica a prime destination for bat enthusiasts and researchers alike.
