Megadermatidae

(vertebrate zoology) The false vampires, a family of tailless bats with large ears and a nose leaf; found in Africa, Australia, and the Malay Archipelago.

(Megadermatidae)

Class: Mammalia

Order: Chiroptera

Suborder: Microchiroptera

Family: Megadermatidae

Thumbnail description
The bifurcate tragus and the absence of upper incisor teeth make false vampire bats distinctive

Size
Medium-sized to large bats with forearms that range from 1.9–4.6 in (5–11.8 cm); 0.7–5.9 oz (20–170 g)

Number of genera, species
4 genera; 5 species

Habitat
From forest to open woodland and desert

Conservation status
Vulnerable: 1 species; Lower Risk/Near Threatened: 1 species

Distribution
Africa, Asia, through the East Indies into Australia

Evolution and systematics

False vampire bats belong to the superfamily Rhinolophoidea. They first appeared as fossils in Eocene deposits, but the fossil record is not extensive. No subfamilies are recognized.

Physical characteristics

Medium-sized to large bats with broad wings. False vampire bats have large ears, large eyes, and distinctive nose-leaves. Their long and silky fur tends to be gray in color. The bifurcate tragus and lack of upper incisors are diagnostic for the family.

Distribution

Megadermatids occur widely in Africa and from eastern Afghanistan through India and Sri Lanka, and on through Myanmar, southwestern China, Malaysia, and the East Indies (Java, Borneo, the Philippines, Bali, Sulawesi, Sangihe Islands, Togian Islands, Lombok, the Moluccas). They are also found in the Andaman Islands, as well as in parts of Australia.

Habitat

False vampire bats live in open, arid habitats in Australia, and in savanna woodlands or the more arid areas of Africa and India.

Behavior

False vampire bats roost in a variety of situations, from caves and mines, to tree hollows and buildings. The African yellow-winged bat (Lavia frons) roosts by hanging from tree branches. Unlike some other species of bat, false vampire bats are warm-blooded and cannot enter torpor, a state of total inactivity.

Feeding ecology and diet

Broad-winged bats with low-wing loading, false vampire bats are capable of flying and maneuvering in areas of vegetation. They may take prey from surfaces (the ground or vegetation) or in flight. False vampire bats eat animals ranging from arthropods to vertebrates, including bats, birds, fish, frogs, and lizards, with larger species taking larger prey. False vampire bats use at least three approaches to finding prey. Often they identify prey-generated sounds such as the footfalls of large arthropods or mice. They may also use vision and, at least in experimental situations, greater false vampire bats used echolocation to find frogs. Prior to foraging in the evening, false vampire bats as well as heart-nosed bats (Cardioderma

cor) sing from perches in their hunting areas. Their songs appear to be territorial advertisements.

Reproductive biology

Female false vampire bats produce a single young each year. The gestation period is about 90 days and young are born at the beginning of the rainy season. Mating system varies by species.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists the heart-nosed bat as being Lower Risk/Near Threatened. The Australian false vampire bat (Macroderma gigas) is listed as Vulnerable.

Significance to humans

None known.

Species accounts

Resources

Churchill, S. Australian Bats. Sydney: Reed New Holland, 1998.

Hutson, A. M., S. P. Mickelburgh, and P. A. Racey. Global Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, Microchiropteran Bats. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN SSC Chiroptera Specialist Group, 2001.

Kingdon, J. Mammals of East Africa: An Atlas of Evolution, Volume 2b. New York: Academic Press, 1974.

Nowak, R. M. Walker's Mammals of the World, Vol. 1. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999.

Csada, R. "Cardioderma cor." Mammalian Species 519 (1998): 1–4.

Hudson, W. S., and D. E. Wilson. "Macroderma gigas." Mammalian Species 260 (1986): 1–4.

Vonhof, M. J., and M. C. Kalcounis. "Lavia frons." Mammalian Species 614 (1999): 1–4.

[Article by: Melville Brockett Fenton, PhD]

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: Old World false vampire bats
  Synonym: family Megadermatidae

Megadermatidae Fossil range: Early Oligocene to Recent
Ghost Bat at Perth Zoo
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Megadermatidae
Genera
Cardioderma Lavia Macroderma Megaderma

This article is about bats in the family Megadermatidae. For the false vampire bats in the family Phyllostomidae, see Phyllostomidae.

Megadermatidae, or False Vampire Bats, are a family of bats found from central Africa, eastwards through southern Asia, and into Australia. They are relatively large bats, ranging from 6.5 cm to 14 cm in head-body length. They have large eyes, very large ears and a prominent nose-leaf. They have a wide membrane between the hind legs, or uropatagium, but no tail. Many species are a drab brown in color, but some are white, bluish-grey or even olive-green, helping to camouflage them against their preferred roosting environments. They are primarily insectivorous, but will also eat a wide range of small vertebrates.^[1]

Contents 1 Classification 2 References 2.1 References in Borneo 3 External links

Classification

• Family: Megadermatidae
  • Genus: Cardioderma - Heart-nosed Bat
  • Genus: Lavia - Yellow-winged Bat
  • Genus: Macroderma - Ghost Bat
  • Genus: Megaderma

References

1. ^ Macdonald, D., ed (1984). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. p. 804. ISBN 0-87196-871-1. 

References in Borneo

• Abdullah MT. 2003. Biogeography and variation of Cynopterus brachyotis in Southeast Asia. PhD thesis. The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.
• Corbet, GB, Hill JE. 1992. The mammals of the Indomalayan region: a systematic review. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
• Hall LS, Gordon G. Grigg, Craig Moritz, Besar Ketol, Isa Sait, Wahab Marni and M.T. Abdullah. 2004. Biogeography of fruit bats in Southeast Asia. Sarawak Museum Journal LX(81):191-284.
• Karim, C., A.A. Tuen and M.T. Abdullah. 2004. Mammals. Sarawak Museum Journal Special Issue No. 6. 80: 221—234.
• Mohd. Azlan J., Ibnu Maryanto , Agus P. Kartono and M.T. Abdullah. 2003 Diversity, Relative Abundance and Conservation of Chiropterans in Kayan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Sarawak Museum Journal 79: 251-265.
• Hall LS, Richards GC, Abdullah MT. 2002. The bats of Niah National Park, Sarawak. Sarawak Museum Journal. 78: 255-282.
• Wilson DE, Reeder DM. 2005. Mammal species of the world. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC.
• Abdullah MT, Hall LS. 1997. Abundance and distribution of fruit bats and other mammals in the tropical forest canopy in Borneo. Sarawak Museum Journal 72:63-74.

External links

• Megadermatidae

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