The fastest fast

2007/08/06 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Biokimika
• Biologia
• Zoologia

Bats that eat nectar have a very fast metabolism. To fly they need a lot of energy and especially fast. In fact, according to biologists' measures, these bats are the fastest mammals consuming sugar. Biologists have given a special nectar to bats, a nectar containing a sugar with many carbon isotopes. The body of bats accumulates sugar until its consumption; once consumed, it releases carbon dioxide through respiration. Biologists have found that bats emit carbon dioxide with a high carbon-13 content in a few minutes. This indicates a very fast consumption, faster than any other mammal.

Photo: C. C. Voidght voidght