Chiroptera
means "hand winged", which is the most distinctive
feature of bats. They are the only mammals with forelimbs
modified as wings, and they are the only ones capable of
sustained flight. Most bats are insectivorous, and in darkness
they locate insects as well as environmental features using
echolocation, during which they emit ultrasonic sounds through
the nose or mouth and the reflected sounds are received
by the ears. Such bats have brains with circuits specialized
to utilize frequency and amplitude modulated acoustical
signals. The frugivorous bats (fruit bats) live mostly in
the tropics and subtropics, subsisting mainly on fruit,
nectar, and pollen. Some bats are specialized for diets
of blood, small vertebrates or fish. Temperate bats hibernate
in caves or other secluded places in winter; others migrate
seasonally to warmer climates.
Family
Pteropodidae
Family
Rhinolophidae
Family
Vespertilionidae
Subfamily
Myotinae
Subfamily
Vespertilioninae
Tribe Eptesicini
Family
Emballonuridae
Subfamily
Emballonurinae
Family
Noctilionidae
Family
Hipposideridae
Family
Phyllostomidae
Subfamily
Phyllostominae
Subfamily
Glossophaginae
Tribe Glossophagini
Subfamily
Carolliinae
Subfamily
Stenodermatinae
Tribe Stenodermatini
Subfamily
Brachyphyllinae
Family
Natalidae
Family
Molossidae
Subfamily
Molossinae