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Chiroptera

Chiroptera generally refers to bats, which are the only mammals that can truly fly; in addition to the characteristics of general mammals, they also have a series of morphological characteristics adapted to flight. Bats have strong flying abilities and are also natural hosts for a variety of zoonotic viruses, capable of carrying dozens of viruses. Bats can be divided into two suborders, with a total of 16 families, 185 genera, and 962 species worldwide, and about 7 families, 30 genera, and 120 species in China.

I. Introduction to Chiroptera

1. General Characteristics:

  • Forelimbs Modified into Wings: Bats are the only mammals capable of sustained, flapping flight. Their elongated fingers support a wing membrane (patagium).

  • Echolocation (Most Species): While most microbats use echolocation to navigate and hunt insects, fruit bats (family Pteropodidae) generally rely more on their well-developed vision and smell, with little or no echolocation.

  • Diverse Diets: Bats occupy a wide range of dietary niches—many are insectivorous, while others consume fruit, nectar, pollen, small vertebrates, fish, and even blood.

  • Ecological Importance: As pollinators, seed dispersers, and insect controllers, bats play vital ecological roles and contribute to the balance of various ecosystems.

2. Diversity and Abundance:

  • With over 1,400 described species, Chiroptera is the second-largest order of mammals after Rodentia.

  • Bats are nearly cosmopolitan, found worldwide except in polar regions and some isolated oceanic islands.


II. Evolutionary History

1. Origin and Fossil Record:

  • The earliest known bat fossils date back to the early Eocene, about 52 million years ago.

  • Fossils indicate that early bats were already well-adapted for flight, sharing key skeletal features with modern bats.

2. Biogeographic Radiation:

  • As continents shifted and climates changed, bats dispersed worldwide and diversified.

  • Old World fruit bats (Pteropodidae) specialized in frugivory and nectarivory, while New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) display a wide range of feeding adaptations (fruits, nectar, insects, blood).

3. Molecular Insights and Revised Classification:

  • Traditionally, bats were split into Megachiroptera ("fruit bats") and Microchiroptera ("microbats"). However, molecular studies showed that this division is not strictly reflective of evolutionary relationships.

  • Current molecular phylogenies divide bats into two major suborders: Yinpterochiroptera and Yangochiroptera. Yinpterochiroptera includes the fruit bats and several echolocating families, whereas Yangochiroptera includes the majority of the echolocating bat lineages.


III. Classification Overview

Order Chiroptera

Suborder Yinpterochiroptera

FamilyRepresentative Genera/SpeciesNotes
Pteropodidae (Old World fruit bats)Pteropus (flying foxes)Primarily frugivorous/nectarivorous, rely on vision and smell; mainly in Old World tropics.
Rhinolophidae (Horseshoe bats)RhinolophusCharacteristic horseshoe-shaped noseleaf; echolocating insectivores in the Old World.
Hipposideridae (Leaf-nosed bats)HipposiderosSimilar to Rhinolophidae, echolocation via noseleaf structures, Old World distribution.
Rhinonycteridae (Trident and related bats)Triaenops and relativesOld World leaf-nosed bats closely related to Rhinolophidae and Hipposideridae.
Megadermatidae (False vampire bats)MegadermaSome species feed on small vertebrates; tailless, Old World distribution.
Craseonycteridae (Kitti’s hog-nosed bat)Craseonycteris thonglongyaiOne of the world’s smallest mammals, found in Thailand and Myanmar.

Suborder Yangochiroptera

FamilyRepresentative Genera/SpeciesNotes
Emballonuridae (Sheath-tailed bats)Taphozous (sac-winged bats)Possess wing sacs; insectivorous.
Nycteridae (Slit-faced bats)Nycteris (slit-faced bats)Complex nose structures, Old World insectivores.
Myzopodidae (Sucker-footed bats)MyzopodaEndemic to Madagascar; have suction cups on thumbs and ankles.
Mystacinidae (New Zealand short-tailed bats)Mystacina tuberculataUnique terrestrial foraging habits, endemic to New Zealand.
Thyropteridae (Disk-winged bats)ThyropteraSuction-cup structures on wings for clinging to leaves, Neotropical.
Furipteridae (Smoky bats)Furipterus horrensReduced thumbs enclosed in wing membrane, Neotropical.
Noctilionidae (Bulldog or Fishing bats)Noctilio (bulldog bats)Some species catch fish; found in the New World.
Mormoopidae (Mustached and Ghost-faced bats)Mormoops, PteronotusComplex facial folds, insectivorous, New World.
Phyllostomidae (New World leaf-nosed bats)Desmodus (vampire bats), Glossophaga (nectar-feeding)Diverse diets: fruits, nectar, insects, blood; Neotropical.
Natalidae (Funnel-eared bats)NatalusFunnel-shaped ears, found from Mexico to South America.
Molossidae (Free-tailed bats)Molossus, Tadarida brasiliensisStrong fliers, tail extends beyond tail membrane, cosmopolitan.
Vespertilionidae (Evening bats)Nyctalus noctula, Lasionycteris noctivagansThe largest family of bats, worldwide distribution, mostly insectivorous.
Miniopteridae (Bent-winged bats)MiniopterusDistinctive wing joints, widely distributed in Old and New Worlds.
Cistugidae (Wing-gland bats)CistugoOnce included in Vespertilionidae, now recognized as a distinct family in Africa.

IV. Summary

Bats represent a remarkable evolutionary success, showcasing adaptations for powered flight, echolocation, and a wide range of feeding habits. Since their Eocene origins, bats have radiated globally to exploit niches from tropical rainforests to deserts. Whether pollinating flowers, dispersing seeds, controlling insect populations, or innovatively feeding on fish or blood, bats illustrate the profound evolutionary creativity that arises over millions of years.

Carnivora Primates Rodents Chiroptera Eulipotyphla Ungulata Cetacea Lagoiformes Pholidota Proboscidea Monotremata
Sphaerias blanfordi

Sphaerias blanfordi

Sphaerias blanfordi

Features:The front of the nostrils is tubular and looks like a dog bat

The species was named by CAI Guiguan and Zhang Naizhi (1980) on the basis of two male specimens collected from Metuo, Xizang Province, which each had a round brown-yellow brush spot on the lower neck, a white leading edge of the lower ear shell, and a brown-blue nape. Domestic and foreign scholars (...

Pteropus dasymallus

Pteropus dasymallus

Pteropus dasymallus

Features:With a dog-like head and large eyes, it is unique to Taiwan and is the only fruit eating bat in Taiwan's pterodactyl family.

The Ryukyu Flying Fox is the only fruit eating bat unique to Taiwan's pterodactyl species. It is a typical arboreal bat that relies on sight and smell to search for food. It feeds mainly on the fruits of the genus Ficus. It does not use ultrasound to locate, but uses sight and smell to find food...

Kerivoula furva

Kerivoula furva

Kerivoula furva

Features:The auricle is funnel-shaped and the tragus is slightly lanceolate.

Dark brown bat is a forest bat. The specimens were collected and captured in the passage of the mixed forest of bamboo forest and evergreen broad-leaved forest using bat harp nets。 Wu et al. (2012) reported Kerivoula titania as the new record for bats in China, using specim...

Painted Bat

Painted Bat

Painted Bat,Kerivoula picta

Features:Tail length is equal to body length. The coat is long and fine, showing an orange-yellow color.

Painted bats are rare in number and fly around tea groves, banana groves, lychee groves and houses to feed. In recent years they have been caught in the young leaves of banana plantations in Haikou and Sanya. They feed on insects. Painted bats live in forests and under leaves. Th...

Harpiocephalus harpia

Harpiocephalus harpia

Harpiocephalus harpia

Features:There are obvious sexual dimorphism phenomenon.

Wool-winged tube-nosed bats are forest bats that feed on beetles. This species is found in Java. In the same environment, dark brown bats (< Kerivoula furva>) Rhinolophus macroetalis and mesotubularis. Rare species. However, in recent years, with the deepening of the investigation, the distrib...

Murina lorelieae

Murina lorelieae

Murina lorelieae

Features:The nose is elongated and tubular, and the rostral end is pointed.

Lorelei tube-nosed bats are small tube-nosed bats. After Eger & Lim (2011) published a new species from a specimen in Diding, Guangxi, Tu et al. (2015) captured three tube-nosed bats in Wangling Nature Reserve, Vietnam. According to their body size and mitochondrial COI gene differences, It is d...

Murina leucogaster

Murina leucogaster

White-bellied Tube-nosed bat,Murina leucogaster

Features:The color of body hair varies greatly in different geographical regions.

The social structure of the white-bellied bat is complex, and it is a typical social nocturnal animal, often living in the same cave with other bat species. Sometimes it also roosts in tree holes and buildings, and hibernates in caves and rock crevices in winter. White-belted tube-nosed bats emit ty...

Murina huttoni

Murina huttoni

Murina huttoni

Features:The nostril is a tubular projection

Mesotubularis nocturnal. Insectivorous. This species is found in India. It lives in middle and low altitude woodland, but ADAPTS to a variety of habitats, and is active in forest and agricultural areas. The Latin scientific name is sometimes spelled Murina huttonii, and the Chinese name is also call...

Murina harrisoni

Murina harrisoni

Murina harrisoni

Features:Typical of the genus is the tragus, which curves slightly backward and is about half the length of the ear.

A new species published by Csorba & Bates (2005) from specimens collected in Kililong National Park, Cambodia, and classified into the "<cyclotis" group, Wu et al. (2010) reported a new Chinese record found in Jianfengling, Hainan. The type specimens were caught in mist nets in smal...

Murina eleryi

Murina eleryi

Murina eleryi

Features:It is one of the smallest species of tub-nosed bat

The arboreal bat is a rare tree-dwelling bat. It inhabits mountainous forests or clusters of dead leaves, living singly or in small groups. They feed on insects. It was a new species published by Furey et al. (2009), and reported by Francis & Eger (2012) as a new record species in China from sam...

Murina cyclotis

Murina cyclotis

Murina cyclotis

Features:The nose is tubular and the ear shell is nearly round. The dorsal hair is bright russet brown, and the hair base is mostly brown.

Round-eared bats are nocturnal bats that feed on small insects. It lives in tropical or subtropical areas, in forests and agroforestry areas at altitudes of 250-1500m. In Southeast Asia, it mainly inhabits tropical rainforests, but is also more common in coastal areas. It...

Miniopterus pusillus

Miniopterus pusillus

Miniopterus pusillus

Features:The ear shell is short and wide, and the tragus is slender.

Any of several small long-winged bats, endemic in China to the south of the Asian long-winged bat, inhawing rock burrows and often gathering in groups of dozens or hundreds of individuals. Living in the same cave are the great hoofed bat, the Chinese chrysanthemum bat, the sheath tail bat and so on....

Miniopterus fuliginosus

Miniopterus fuliginosus

Miniopterus fuliginosus,Smallbent-wingedbat

Features:The ears are short and round with a small tragus

Asian long-winged bats live in large limestone caves in dark, wet water, gathering in large groups of thousands or even tens of thousands of individuals on top of the cave walls. It has a hibernation habit. They feed on small flying insects, especially hymenoptera and diptera. Miniopterus schreibers...

Plecotus austriacus

Plecotus austriacus

Big eared bat, rabbit eared bat,Plecotus austriacus, ghost bat, brown big eared bat, common big eared bat

Features:

The grey-eared bat has an ear that reaches or exceeds the length of the head, and is also called the grey-eared bat or rabbit-eared bat. It lives in buildings, tree holes and rock caves. Very rare, single or in small groups. He has a hibernation habit. They feed on insects....

Long-eared Bat

Long-eared Bat

Long-eared bat, rabbit-eared bat, ghost bat, brown big-eared bat, common big-eared bat,Long-eared Bat,Plecotus auritus

Features:The ears are very large, wide and long

The big eared bat, also known as the long eared bat or rabbit-eared bat, is characterized by an ear that is longer than the head length. It lives alone and does not mix with other bats. Beginning to sleep in September, the hibernating big-eared bat does not eat or move, the ear is folded under the a...

Scotophilus kuhli

Scotophilus kuhli

Scotophilus kuhli

Features:He is slender and stocky, light brown or olive green in color.

The little Yellow bat, which ranges from sea level to 1100m above sea level, is a highly adaptable bat species. Colonies of tens to hundreds of individuals have been known to congregate in temples, caves, hollow trees, palm leaves, roofs and walls of buildings, abandoned buildings, and tree hollows....

Scotophilus heathi

Scotophilus heathi

Scotophilus heathi

Features:The body color is usually yellowish brown; The belly hair is yellow and bright.

Rhubarb bats are tropical species, living in ancient temples, ancient pagodas, tree holes, ceilings of houses, top floors, etc., living alone or 2-3 groups, or 20, 30 or even hundreds of groups. Come out at night to fly for food. They feed on insects....

Harlequin Bat

Harlequin Bat

Harlequin Bat,Scotomanes ornatus

Features:The ears are long and oval in shape

The species is rare in number and is found in Assam. Inhabits in tropical, temperate wet stone crevices. They live in groups. They go out at dusk and at night to forage in the bamboo forests and around the woods, feeding on insects. They perch on the steep walls of caves or hang from high branches,...

Barbastella leucomelas

Barbastella leucomelas

easternbarbastelle,Barbastella leucomelas

Features:The ears are broad and the tragus is triangular in shape.

Asian broad-eared bats live in caves, bark, or buildings in northern or alpine regions. Usually single or small group activity, breeding period gathered in groups. He has a hibernation habit. They feed on insects. Good for mankind. It has been li...

Tylonycteris robustula

Tylonycteris robustula

Tylonycteris robustula,Great Club-footed Bat

Features:

The brown bat species is rare. It is a tropical bat that lives in bamboo holes that are eaten by beetles. Since Zhang Libiao et al reported the discovery of this kind of new records in Hainan and other three provinces in 2008, Zhang Qiuping et al. (2014) and Wu Yi et al. (2015)...

Lesser Club-footed Bat

Lesser Club-footed Bat

Lesser Club-footed Bat,Tylonycteris pachypus

Features:The world's smallest bat has attracted attention because of its unique habit of inhabiting bamboo.

The bat is the smallest bat in the world, and the only one in the world that can get into bamboo tubes, because of its unique flat skull, people give it the image name "flat skull bat". According to records, the oblate skull bat has survived on the earth for 6 million years, belonging to t...