California leaf-nosed bats usually use their sense of sight (rather than echolocation) when they are foraging, and resort to echolocation only in total darkness. They fly slowly, close to the ground or to vegetation, and often take butterflies and katydids, which are immobile at night when the bats are hunting. Learn more about the Macrotus californicus, more commonly known as a California Leaf-nosed Bat, in this easy-to-read species overview by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

Additional Tags

california leaf-nosed bat, macrotus californicus, smithsonian

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Classroom Considerations

• Knovation Readability Score: 3 (1 low difficulty, 5 high difficulty)
• The intended use for this resource is Instructional