The Genius Bat - Understanding Our Most Mysterious Mammal

Step into the shadows and listen

Usually, you'll hear a bat before you see it - the gentle flutter of wings, their high-pitched chatter as they dive and roll for insects. Only occasionally do you spot them, a blur against the evening sky, quickly fading into the dark.

Despite their elusiveness, bats are some of the most successful animals on Earth with nearly 1,500 known species. From the tiny bumblebee bat - who could rest comfortably on your index finger - to the giant golden-crowned flying fox, whose wingspan stretches well over one and half metres, they are evolutionary marvels, adapted to practically every environment. Reaching speeds of up to 100 mph, they leave cheetahs in the dust. And, while the notorious vampire bat feasts on blood, others are vegetarian, subsisting on fruit and nectar, pollinating vital crops - mangoes, bananas, guavas - in the process. Most remarkably, they are the only mammal that can fly.

Yossi Yovel, an ecologist and a neurobiologist, has spent his life trekking through muddy rainforests and camping in star-covered deserts in pursuit of bats' secrets. Only recently have we begun to understand the lives of these majestic and oft-maligned creatures and The Genius Bat draws on the latest research to shed light on their mysterious nocturnal lives - as well as the obsessive and eccentric people who study them. Eye-opening and entertaining, you'll never think of bats the same way again.

About the author

Yossi Yovel is an ecologist and neurobiologist - a rare combination of disciplines. A professor at Tel Aviv University and the head of the School of Neuroscience, he has conducted research all around the world, using an arsenal of methods and equipment. His work has been covered by major media outlets including the New York Times, Guardian, Financial Times, Economist, NPR, BBC and National Geographic. A sought-after public speaker, he is currently a visiting scholar at McGill University in Montreal.

Product details

Authors	Yossi Yovel
Publisher	Oneworld Publications
Languages	English
Product format	Hardback
Release	03.03.2026
EAN	9781836432036
ISBN	978-1-83643-203-6
Subjects	Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Zoology; NATURE / Animals / Birds, Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Zoology / General, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Zoology / Mammals, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Zoology / Ornithology, NATURE / Birdwatching Guides, NATURE / Animals / Mammals, Zoology: birds (ornithology), Birds (ornithology), Conservation of wildlife & habitats, Animal behaviour, Wildlife: birds & birdwatching, Wildlife: mammals, Wildlife: birds and birdwatching: general interest, Ethology and animal behaviour, Conservation of wildlife and habitats, Wildlife: mammals: general interest, Zoology: Mammals, Zoology: mammals (mammalogy)

Product details

• Authors: Yossi Yovel
• Publisher: Oneworld Publications
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 03.03.2026
• EAN: 9781836432036
• ISBN: 978-1-83643-203-6
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Zoology; NATURE / Animals / Birds, Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Zoology / General, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Zoology / Mammals, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Zoology / Ornithology, NATURE / Birdwatching Guides, NATURE / Animals / Mammals, Zoology: birds (ornithology), Birds (ornithology), Conservation of wildlife & habitats, Animal behaviour, Wildlife: birds & birdwatching, Wildlife: mammals, Wildlife: birds and birdwatching: general interest, Ethology and animal behaviour, Conservation of wildlife and habitats, Wildlife: mammals: general interest, Zoology: Mammals, Zoology: mammals (mammalogy)