Bat

Antrozoidae

Classification

Though sometimes called "flying rodents" or "flying mice," these terms are erroneous, as bats are neither rodents nor mice.

Related Topics:
Rodent - Mice

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There are two suborders of bats:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Megachiroptera (megabats or fruit bats)
• Microchiroptera (microbats, echolocating bats or insectivorous bats)

Megabats eat fruit, nectar or pollen while Microbats eat insects, blood, small mammals, and fish relying on echolocation for navigation and finding prey.

Related Topics:
Insects - Blood - Small mammals - Fish - Echolocation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There is controversial but well-supported evidence that Megachiroptera evolved flight separately from Microchiroptera; if so, the Microchiroptera would have uncertain affinities. When adaptations to flight are discounted in a cladistic analysis the Megachiroptera are allied to the Primates by anatomical features that are not shared with Microchiroptera. Genetic evidence, however, has pointed to the common ancestry of Megachiroptera and at least some Microchiroptera; the genetic studies have not reached consensus acceptance. Most studies of Eutherian relationships have attempted to avoid this issue by assuming monophyly of Chiroptera.

Related Topics:
Cladistic - Eutherian - Monophyly

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Little is known about the evolution of bats, since their small, delicate skeletons do not fossilize well. However a late Cretaceous tooth from South America resembles that of an early Microchiropteran bat. The oldest known definite bat fossils, such as Icaronycteris, Archaeonycteris, Palaeochiropteryx and Hassianycteris, are from the early Eocene (about 50 million years ago), but they were already very similar to modern microbats. Archaeopteropus, formerly classified as the earliest known Megachiropteran, is now classified as a Microchiropteran.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bats are usually grouped with the tree shrews (Scandentia), colugos (Dermoptera), and the primates in superorder Archonta because of the similarities between Megachiroptera and these mammals.

Related Topics:
Scandentia - Dermoptera - Primate - Archonta

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• ORDER CHIROPTERA
• Suborder Megachiroptera (megabats)
• Pteropodidae
• Suborder Microchiroptera (microbats)
• Superfamily Emballonuroidea
• Emballonuridae (Sac-winged or Sheath-tailed bats)
• Superfamily Rhinopomatoidea
• Rhinopomatidae (Mouse-tailed bats)
• Craseonycteridae (Bumblebee Bat or Kitti's Hog-nosed Bat)
• Superfamily Rhinolophoidea
• Rhinolophidae (Horseshoe bats)
• Nycteridae (Hollow-faced or Slit-faced bats)
• Megadermatidae (False vampires)
• Superfamily Vespertilionoidea
• Vespertilionidae (Vesper bats or Evening bats)
• Superfamily Molossoidea
• Molossidae (Free-tailed bats)
• Antrozoidae (Pallid bats)
• Superfamily Nataloidea
• Natalidae (Funnel-eared bats)
• Myzopodidae (Sucker-footed bats)
• Thyropteridae (Disk-winged bats)
• Furipteridae (Smoky bats)
• Superfamily Noctilionoidea
• Noctilionidae (Bulldog bats or Fisherman bats)
• Mystacinidae (New Zealand short-tailed bats)
• Mormoopidae (Ghost-faced or Moustached bats)
• Phyllostomidae (Leaf-nosed bats)

All bats are active at night or at twilight, so the eyes of most species are poorly developed. Their senses of smell and hearing, however, are excellent. By emitting high-pitched sounds and listening to the echoes, the microbats locate prey and other nearby objects. This is the process of echolocation, a skill they share with dolphins and whales.

Related Topics:
Microbat - Echolocation - Dolphins - Whales

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The teeth resemble those of the insectivores. They are very sharp in order to bite through the chitin armour of insects or the skin of fruits.

Related Topics:
Insectivore - Chitin - Insect

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~