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Chiroptera
| Description | Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera; with their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals naturally 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 mm (1.14–1.34 in) in length, 15 cm (5.91 in) across the wings and 2–2.6 g (0.07–0.09 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 (4 lb) and have a wingspan of 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in). From Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiroptera, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source Data |
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| Rank | order | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy (GBIF,PBDB) | Life : Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Chiroptera | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxonomic Status (GBIF) | accepted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification (PBDB,GBIF) |
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| Common Name | bat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scientific Name | Chiroptera | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opinions (PBDB) |
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| Status (PBDB) | extant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxon Size (PBDB) | 502 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extant Size (PBDB) | 229 (46%) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Recorded Appearance | 56.8 - 55.8 Ma Paleogene | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Environment | terrestrial | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motility | actively mobile (based on Osteichthyes) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diet | insectivore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reproduction | viviparous | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taphonomy | phosphatic (based on Vertebrata) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primary Reference (PBDB) | R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Name(s) | Vleermuizen, Fladdermöss, Bats, Morcego, Quiróptero, Bat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wikipedia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiroptera |
External Images
Fossil Distribution
Subtaxa
| Name | Status | Common Name(s) | Fossil Occurrences | Oldest | Youngest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fructivorae order | listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Insectivorae order | listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Animalivora suborder | listed (PBDB) | 5 | 16.3 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Eochiroptera ✝ suborder | listed (PBDB) | 4 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 47.8 Ma Eocene | |
| Frugivora suborder | listed (PBDB) | 2 | 8.70 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
 Megachiropterasuborder | listed (PBDB) | Fruit Bat | 42 | 5.33 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microchiroptera suborder | listed (PBDB) | 842 | 56.8 Ma Paleocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Noctilionoidea superfamily | listed (PBDB) | 11 | 19.0 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Aegyptonycteridae ✝ family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 38.0 Ma Eocene | 38.0 Ma Eocene | |
| Archaeonycteridae ✝ family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 19 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 41.3 Ma Eocene | |
| Cistugidae family | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Craseonycteridae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Bumblebee Bat | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Emballonuridae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Sac-winged Bat | 47 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Furipteridae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Smoky Bat | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Hassianycterididae ✝ family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 3 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | |
| Hipposideridae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Leaf-nosed Bat | 101 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Icaronycteridae ✝ family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 8 | 56.8 Ma Paleocene | 48.6 Ma Eocene | |
| Macroglossidae family | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Megadermatidae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | False Vampire | 30 | 33.9 Ma Oligocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Miniopteridae family | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Mixopterygidae family | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Molossidae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Free-tailed Bat | 77 | 48.6 Ma Eocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Mormoopidae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Ghost-faced Bat | 7 | 33.3 Ma Oligocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Mystacinidae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | New Zealand Short-tailed Bat | 11 | 19.0 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Myzopodidae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Sucker-footed Bat | 1 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Natalidae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Funnel-eared Bat | 12 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Necromantidae ✝ family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 3 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 37.2 Ma Eocene | |
| Noctilionidae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Bulldog Bat | 5 | 16.3 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Nycteridae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Slit-faced Bat | 2 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Nycterididae ✝ family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 33.9 Ma Oligocene | |
| Onychonycteridae ✝ family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 55.8 Ma Eocene | 55.8 Ma Eocene | |
| Palaeochiropterygidae ✝ family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 6 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 41.3 Ma Eocene | |
| Philisidae ✝ family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 9 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 33.9 Ma Oligocene | |
| Phyllostomatidae family | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Phyllostomidae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Leaf-nosed Bat | 79 | 48.6 Ma Eocene | 0 Ma Extant |
 Pteropodidaefamily | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Fruit Bat | 42 | 5.33 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Rhinolophidae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Horseshoe Bat | 110 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Rhinopomatidae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Mouse-tailed Bat | 1 | 38.0 Ma Eocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Tanzanycterididae ✝ family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 47.8 Ma Eocene | 47.8 Ma Eocene | |
| Thyropteridae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Disk-winged Bat | 3 | 16.3 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Vespertilionidae family | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Vesper Bat | 621 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Archaeopteropus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 33.9 Ma Oligocene | 33.9 Ma Oligocene | |
| Mixopteryx ✝ genus | doubtful (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 33.9 Ma Oligocene | 33.9 Ma Oligocene | |
| Mixopteryx genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Samonycteris ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 11.6 Ma Miocene | 11.6 Ma Miocene | |
| Speonycteris genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Vesperugo ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | ||||
| Microchiropteramorpha unranked clade | listed (PBDB) | 29 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
Synonymy List
| Year | Name and Author |
|---|---|
| 1779 | Chiroptera Blumenbach |
| 1821 | Cheiroptera Gray p. 299 |
| 1850 | Chiroptera Bonaparte p. 1 |
| 1883 | Chiroptera Flower p. 185 |
| 1889 | Chiroptera Cope p. 875 |
| 1891 | Chiroptera Flower and Lydekker p. 92 |
| 1898 | Chiroptera Gadow p. 52 |
| 1902 | Chiroptera Hay p. 741 |
| 1910 | Chiroptera Gregory p. 465 |
| 1911 | Chiropteri Jaekel p. 211 |
| Year | Name and Author |
|---|---|
| 1975 | Chiroptera McKenna p. 42 |
| 1986 | Chiroptera Hooker p. 241 |
| 1988 | Chiroptera Carroll |
| 1991 | Chiroptera Nowak |
| 1999 | Chiroptera Waddell et al. p. cover |
| 2001 | Chiroptera Madsen et al. p. 610 |
| 2001 | Chiroptera Waddell et al. p. 148 |
| 2010 | Chiroptera Asher and Helgen p. 3 figs. Figure 1 |
| 2014 | Chiroptera Vianey-Liaud et al. p. 578 |
References
Data courtesy of: PBDB: The Paleobiology Database, Creative Commons CC-BY licenced. , GBIF: the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, various licences, iDigBio, various licences, and EOL: The Encyclopedia of Life (Open Data Public Domain). Because fossils are made of minerals too!
Mücheln, Saalekreis, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany