Chiroptera

For other uses, see Bat (disambiguation), BAT (disambiguation), and Bats (disambiguation).

Bat Temporal range: Eocene–Present PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Clade:	Scrotifera
Order:	Chiroptera Blumenbach, 1779
Suborders
(traditional): Megachiroptera Microchiroptera (recent): Yinpterochiroptera Yangochiroptera
Worldwide distribution of bat species

Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera; with their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more manoeuvrable than birds, flying with their very long spread-out digits covered with a thin membrane or patagium. The smallest bat, and arguably the smallest extant mammal, is Kitti's hog-nosed bat, which is 29–34 millimetres (1 ¹⁄₈–1 ³⁄₈ inches) in length, 150 mm (6 in) across the wings and 2–2.6 g (¹⁄₁₆–³⁄₃₂ oz) in mass. The largest bats are the flying foxes and the giant golden-crowned flying fox, Acerodon jubatus, which can weigh 1.6 kg (3 ¹⁄₂ lb) and have a wingspan of 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in).

The second largest order of mammals after rodents, bats comprise about 20% of all classified mammal species worldwide, with over 1,400 species. These were traditionally divided into two suborders: the largely fruit-eating megabats, and the echolocating microbats. But more recent evidence has supported dividing the order into Yinpterochiroptera and Yangochiroptera, with megabats as members of the former along with several species of microbats. Many bats are insectivores, and most of the rest are frugivores (fruit-eaters). A few species feed on animals other than insects; for example, the vampire bats feed on blood. Most bats are nocturnal, and many roost in caves or other refuges; it is uncertain whether bats have these behaviours to escape predators. Bats are present throughout the world, with the exception of extremely cold regions. They are important in their ecosystems for pollinating flowers and dispersing seeds; many tropical plants depend entirely on bats for these services.

Bats provide humans with some benefits, at the cost of some threats. Bat dung has been mined as guano from caves and used as fertiliser. Bats consume insect pests, reducing the need for pesticides. They are sometimes numerous enough to serve as tourist attractions, and are used as food across Asia and the Pacific Rim. They are natural reservoirs of many pathogens, such as rabies; and since they are highly mobile, social, and long-lived, they can readily spread disease. In many cultures, bats are popularly associated with darkness, malevolence, witchcraft, vampires, and death.

See also

• Human uses of bats
• Bat detector

References

Sources

• Altringham, J. D. (2011). Bats: From Evolution to Conservation. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199207114. 
• Fenton, M. B. (2001). Bats. Checkmark Books. ISBN 978-0-8160-4358-3. 
• Fenton, M. B.; Simmons, N. B. (2015). Bats: A World of Science and Mystery. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0226065120. 

External links

• Chiroptera at Wikipedia, the free Terran encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• Data related to Chiroptera at Wikispecies
• UK Bat Conservation Trust
• Tree of Life
• Microbat Vision
• The DSP Behind Bat Echolocation – Analysis of several kinds of bat echolocation