Grey-headed flying fox carrying her pup, Australia Apr 17, 2026

When the sun sets, a mysterious animal takes over the skies: bats. With more than 1,400 species found on every continent except Antarctica, they play a vital role in keeping ecosystems in balance. They have existed for over 50 million years, and while only three species feed on blood, the vast majority rely on insects, fruit, nectar or pollen, helping to control pests and support plant life.

© Doug Gimesy/Nature Picture Library

palette

Today in History

Apr 17, 2024Black bear cub emerges into spring
Apr 17, 2025Andean cocks-of-the-rock, Ecuador

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 30, 2025Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United States
Jan 4, 2024Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
Oct 13, 2025Waterfall at Wimbachklamm Gorge, Bavaria, Germany
Aug 22, 2026Common blue butterfly
Apr 12, 2025View from the cupola of the International Space Station
Jan 17, 2024Eurasian wolf
Apr 15, 2024Château de Chambord, France
Oct 9, 2023Fremont petroglyphs, Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, USA
Aug 31, 2023Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona, USA
Apr 12, 2024Arches National Park, Utah, USA
May 24, 2024Añisclo gorge, Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Spain
July 12, 2026Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine, USA
Oct 6, 2025Anshun Bridge, Chengdu, China
Jan 29, 2026Milwaukee City Hall, Wisconsin, United States
Aug 12, 2026A group of elephants, Amboseli National Park, Kenya
May 29, 2024Eurasian otters
Jul 18, 2024Coral reef in the Indian Ocean, Mayotte, France
Oct 2, 2025Oxbow Bend on the Snake River, Wyoming, United States
Dec 3, 2025Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, United States
Feb 18, 2024Sperm whale
Aug 13, 2025Corona Arch near Moab, Utah, United States
Nov 25, 2025Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Oct 17, 2023Torra di a Parata, Corsica, France
Aug 6, 2024Molokini crater, Maui, Hawaii, USA
May 10, 2026Polar bears in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada
Oct 12, 2024Wood duck, Quebec, Canada
Sept 2, 2026Beach huts, Southwold, Suffolk Heritage Coast, England
June 8, 2026Lions mane jellyfish swimming in the ocean
May 29, 2025Miravet, Catalonia, Spain
Jan 27, 2026Dalmatian pelicans, Lake Kerkini, Greece