Catch me if you can: The Mexican free-tailed bat

Though its nativity is a part of its name, the Mexican free-tailed bat – also known as the Brazilian free-tailed bat – has made almost the entire Americas its home. The night-raider enjoys a special status in Austin, from where it receives yet another name: The Austin bat. The binomial name of the mammal is Tadarida brasiliensis. 

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What is entomophagy?

The practice of people eating insects is called entomophagy. It has been practised for centuries throughout Africa, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, and North, Central and South America. This is because many bugs are both protein-rich and good sources of vitamins, minerals and fats.

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Cooler than rainforests, higher than 3,000 feet above sea level

Cloud forests are usually found in the tropical or subtropical regions such as South Africa, Indonesia and South America. They are also found in temperate regions such as Japan and Pakistan. The clouds cover up to the middle level of these forests and persist there. The forests are dark due to low infiltration of light and the vegetation predominantly comprises ferns, orchids and mosses besides trees such as pine and oak. Cloud forests have a high level of biodiversity, most of which is threatened due to unsustainable activities of humans.

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