BATS: Classification
MAMMALS HAVE HAIR/FUR NURSE YOUNG LIVE YOUNG ENDOTHERMIC
CLASSIFICATION KINGDOM: ANIMALIA PHYLUM: CHORDATA CLASS: MAMMALIA ORDER: CHIROPTERA (mega or micro) FAMILY: 18 (1 mega 17 micro) GENUS: SPECIES:
CHIROPTERA CHIRO=HAND PTERA-WING 2 SUB ORDERS MEGACHIROPTERA MICROCHIROPTERA
Megabats 1 family, 170 species Tropics/subtropics Frugivores Nectarivores Insectivores Food located by sight/smell Very well developed eyes Wingspans up to 6 feet
Characteristics of Megabats Large Eyes Small Ears Large noses
Microbats 17 FAMILIES 780 SPECIES MORE DIVERSE THAN MEGABATS FOUND WORLDWIDE EXCEPT POLAR REGIONS USE ECHOLOCATION TO NAVIGATE IN DARK FOR FOOD INSECTIVORES, SOME CARNIVORES/NECTARIVORES 3 SPECIES EAT BLOOD (SANGIVORES)
CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROBATS SMALL EYES SPECIALIZED/LARGE EARS NOSE LEAVES
OF ALL BATS IN THE WORLD: 2/3 EAT INSECTS 1/3 EAT NECTAR 1% EAT FROGS, MICE, FISH, SMALL INVERTS < 1/3 OF 1% ARE VAMPIRE
Can you differentiate between megachiroptera and microchiroptera?