Chiroptera

(vertebrate zoology) The bats, an order of mammals having the front limbs modified as wings.

An order of mammals (bats) in which the front limbs are modified as wings, thus making the chiropterans the only truly flying mammals. Bats form the second largest order of living mammals (16 families, 171 genera, some 840 species). They range from the limit of trees in the Northern Hemisphere to the southern tips of Africa, New Zealand, and South America, but most species are confined to the tropics. On many oceanic islands they are the only native land mammals.

The wing is formed by webs of skin running from the neck to the wrist (propatagium, or antebrachial membrane), between the greatly elongated second, third, fourth, and fifth fingers (chiropatagium), and from the arm and hand to the body (usually the side) and hindlegs (plagiopatagium). There is also usually a web between the hindlegs (uropatagium, or interfemoral membrane) in which the tail, if present, is usually embedded for at least part of its length (see illustration). The 16 living families may be briefly characterized as follows.

Features of the bat. (From R. Peterson, Silently by Night, McGraw-Hill, 1964)

Pteropodidae are in general the most primitive of living bats and are placed in the suborder Megachiroptera, characterized by more primitive ears and shoulder joints. Most still retain a claw on the second digit (absent in all other bats, suborder Microchiroptera), and few have developed an echolocation (sonar) mechanism, found in all Microchiroptera. The teeth, however, are highly modified for eating fruit or nectar. The family, with 38 genera and 149 species, is widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics of the Eastern Hemisphere. While some species are quite small, the family includes the largest of all bats, with wingspreads of up to 5¹/₂ ft (1.65 m).

Rhinopomatidae is an insect-eating family, with one genus and two species, found chiefly in arid regions of northern Africa and southern Asia. These bats are characterized by long wirelike tails and rudimentary nose leaves.

Emballonuridae is an insectivorous family that includes 12 genera with 45 species found in the tropics of both Eastern and Western hemispheres. Like the Pteropodidae, these bats have well-developed bony processes behind the eye sockets. The tail extends only partly across the uropatagium.

Noctilionidae, a tropical American family, is represented by two species in one genus, including a highly specialized fish-eating species. Fish are detected by echolocation and gaffed by the long clawed feet.

Nycteridae are insect eaters, with 1 genus and 12 species found in Africa and southern Asia. These bats have an extensive basin behind the nose, which is partly bridged over by flaps of skin, leaving a mere slit between them.

The four genera of the Megadermatidae (with five species) occur in tropical Africa, southeastern Asia and adjoining islands, and northern Australia. Some species are insect-eating; others feed on small vertebrates, including other bats.

Rhinolophidae are insect-eating bats that are widely distributed in the Eastern Hemisphere. They are remarkable for their extremely complex nose leaves. There are 11 genera represented by 129 species.

Phyllostomatidae includes 120 species (in 50 genera) of tropical and subtropical bats. They possess simple nose leaves and a tremendous variety in structure, reflecting an equal diversity in food habits. Primitively insect-eating, many have become fruit or nectar feeders, and a few are predators on small vertebrates, including other bats.

Desmodontidae are the true vampires, essentially confined to the mainland of tropical America. The teeth and tongue are highly modified for taking of blood. This family includes three genera with three species.

Natalidae (one genus and four species) are tropical American insect-eating species with large funnellike ears.

Furipteridae is an insect-eating family, confined to tropical South America, and represented by two species in two genera. The thumb is reduced in size and largely enclosed in the wing membrane.

Thyropteridae includes two species (in one genus), confined to the tropical American mainland. The large suction disks on the thumbs and hindfeet enable them to roost on the smooth inner surfaces of large rolled-up leaves.

Myzopodidae, with a single species, is confined to Madagascar, eats insects, and has suckers on the thumbs and feet rather like those of the Thyropteridae.

Vespertilionidae, a nearly cosmopolitan family with 279 species in 34 genera, occur almost everywhere that bats occur. Almost all are insect-eating and a few catch fish. In all, the tail is long, extending to the edge of the uropatagium. Most have no special facial modifications. A few have very large ears or small simple nose leaves. In spite of its many species, the family shows little structural diversity. Echolocation, present in all families of bats except the Pteropodidae, is perhaps most highly developed here and is used for catching insects as well as avoiding obstacles.

Mystacinidae, with a single insect-eating species, is confined to New Zealand. It has a short tail, not reaching the edge of the uropatagium, and stout hindlegs and body.

Molossidae is widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics. Feeding on insects, they have long tails which extend beyond their uropatagia. The body and hindlegs are stoutly built. The family includes 81 species in 10 genera.

Bats have a poor fossil record, but have been distinct at least since the Eocene, some 50,000,000 years ago. See also Mammalia.

The order which comprises all of the 178 genera in 16 families of bats. Characterized by their ability to fly with the aid of an alar membrane which is attached to all four limbs and tail. They are fast fliers with a special sensory system to enable them to fly at their preferred time, dusk.
There are three groups, insectivorous e.g. Macrotus spp., fruit-eating e.g. Pteropus (called also flying foxes), and blood-drinking or vampire bats e.g. Desmodus, better known by their association with Nosferatu than as carriers of the rabies virus. (Much of the mythology of vampirism can be explained within the parameters of rabies epidemiology). Both fruit-eating and vampire bats are known to be involved in the spread of rabies and similar bat rabies viruses.