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UPSC Prelims 1989 · Environment · Species Watch
Which of the following is true about the Bats?
- Bats are mammals.
- Bats have wings which are actually the modified forelimbs.
- Bats are nocturnal in habit.
- (a) 1, 2 & 3
- (b) 2 & 3
- (c) 1 & 3
- (d) 1 & 2
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (a) 1, 2 & 3
All three statements are true.
Statement by statement
1. ✓ CORRECT Bats have fur, give birth and feed milk — mammals.
2. ✓ CORRECT A bat’s wing is skin stretched over very long finger bones — a modified forelimb.
3. ✓ CORRECT Most bats are active at night.
The idea
Bats are the only mammals that truly fly. The wing is a hand: thin skin stretched over four very long fingers. The name of the bat order means “hand-wing”.
Fur, live young, milk → mammal → Arm and finger bones inside the wing → modified forelimb → Rest by day, feed at night → nocturnal
Elimination technique
All three are plain textbook descriptions with no absolute word. Such statements are usually true in Environment PYQs.
Also know
About one in five mammal species is a bat. Insect-eating bats control mosquitoes and crop pests; fruit bats pollinate trees and spread seeds. Bats can carry viruses such as Nipah and rabies, but rabies can make them fatally ill.
🔒 Bats: the only flying mammals; wings = modified forelimbs; echolocation.