A Chester professor has published a new book demystifying the world of bats in a bid to improve their reputation.

Christina Stanley, professor of animal behaviour and welfare at the University of Chester, has just released a new text bringing together research from around the world on different types of bats.

The book outlines curious behaviours exhibited by some bat species, such as sharing blood with friends to save a life, or sleeping in leaf-homes that only last for a single day.

It also shares how bats can share information about food, learn important skills as youngsters within a noisy roost, and even use friendships in captivity as a way to de-stress.

By introducing readers to each scientist co-author at the start of each chapter, Christina also aims to make scientists more relatable.

There are about 1,500 bat species worldwide; they play essential roles in ecosystems, agriculture and could revolutionise human medicine.

Christina discussed these points with actor and presenter Alan Davies in the first episode of new BBC Radio 4 series, Life Without, a programme which asks what would happen to the planet if one thing was plucked from existence.

In that episode, bats no longer existed. Christina explained how the world would suffer biodiversity loss, the difficulty of fighting infectious diseases, and how tequila might become a thing of the past.

"I love talking about bats to anyone who'll listen," Christina said. "They are one of the most misunderstood animals on the planet; it drives me mad that they are still associated mostly with disease and vampires.

"Their faces can sometimes be a bit off-putting, as bats often sport strange-looking structures to funnel the ultrasound they use to echolocate.

"But bats show such endearing qualities, such as strong friendships and co-operation; once you understand the complexity of their social relationships, you can get past their appearance.

"I really hope this book and Radio 4 programme create more bat fans – they really need our help!"

The book is now available to purchase from Pelagic Publishing, NHBS (Natural History Book Service), Amazon, Waterstones and other booksellers.

It includes a chapter co-authored by Christina and two members of her research team, postdoctoral researcher Camilla Soravia and PhD student Lucy Morison, about their current work on lesser horseshoe bats.

Camilla said: "There is still so much to discover about bats. We often don't know where they go when they leave the roost, or what they're saying when they call to one another.

"I've loved the opportunities to climb ladders, explore dark attics and catch glimpses of their hidden lives.

"I've especially enjoyed sharing that sense of discovery with students and through this book – I hope it brings people and bats closer together."

The University's BAT Monitoring via novel Assays and smart Nano-electronics (BATMAN) Project, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, is uncovering new insights into how lesser horseshoe bats cope with different types of disturbance from humans, especially in terms of light and noise.

Their work has inspired a new review paper, published this month, written by Christina, Camilla, Lucy and Professor of Behavioural Endocrinology Tessa Smith.