Evening bats or, perhaps more correctly,
Vesper bats (family
Vespertilionidae) are the largest and best-known family of
batBats are flying mammals in the order Chiroptera . The forelimbs of bats are webbed and developed as wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums and colugos, glide rather than...
s. They belong to the suborder Microchiroptera (
microbatThe microbats constitute the suborder Microchiroptera within the order Chiroptera . They are most often referred to by their scientific name...
s). There are over 300 species distributed all over the world, on every continent except
Antarctica| style="border-top:solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding:0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align:top;" | 14,000,000 km
2 280,000 km
2 13,720,000 km
2 |-! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top;...
. Sometimes the family is called "common bats". It owes its name to the latin word
vesperVesper means evening in Classical Latin. It can refer to:*Hesperus, Latinized form of Hesperos, a Greek mythological figure *Vesper Lynd, a fictional character of Ian Fleming's James Bond novel Casino Royale...
, meaning "evening".
Characteristics
Almost all Vesper bats are
insectInsects are arthropods, having a hard exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae. They are the most diverse group of animals on the planet and include more than a million species that are already described. Insects represent more than half of all...
-eaters, exceptions being some
Myotis and
Pizonyx that catch
fishA fish is any aquatic vertebrate animal that is typically ectothermic , covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins...
and the larger
Nyctalus species that have been known on occasion to catch small
PasserineA passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders:...
birds in flight. The
dental formulaDentition is the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth.All mammals except the monotremes, the xenarthrans, the pangolins, and the cetaceans have up to four distinct types of teeth, with a maximum number for each. These are the incisor , the canine, the premolar, and the molar ...
of vesper bats varies between species:
They rely mainly on
echolocationEcholocation, also called biosonar, is the biological sonar used by several animals such as dolphins, shrews, most bats, and most whales. The term was coined by Donald Griffin, who was the first to conclusively demonstrate its existence in bats...
, but they lack the enlarged noses that some microbats have in order to improve the
ultrasoundUltrasound is cyclic sound pressure with a frequency greater than the upper limit of human hearing. Although this limit varies from person to person, it is approximately 20 kilohertz in healthy, young adults and thus, 20 kHz serves as a useful lower limit in describing ultrasound...
beam, and instead "shout" through their open mouths to project their ultrasound beam. In compensation many species have relatively large ears.
As a group, Vesper bats cover the full gamut of flight ability with the relatively weak flying
Pipistrellus that have fluttery, almost
insectInsects are arthropods, having a hard exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae. They are the most diverse group of animals on the planet and include more than a million species that are already described. Insects represent more than half of all...
-like flight to the long winged and fast flying genera such as
Lasiurus,
Nyctalus and
Miniopteris. The family size range is from 3 to 13 cm in length, excluding the tail, which is itself quite long in most species. They are generally brown or grey in color, but some have brightly colored fur, with reds, oranges, and yellows all being known, and many having white patches or stripes.
Most species roost in caves, although some make use of hollow trees, rocky crevices, animal burrows, or other forms of shelter. There is also a great variation in the size of vesper bat colonies, with some roosting alone, and others in groups of anything up to a million individuals. Species native to temperate latitudes typically
hibernateHibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve energy, especially during winter when food is short, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
, while a few of the tropical species aestivate.
Classification
Five subfamilies are recognized:
- Subfamily Vespertilioninae
Vespertilioninae is a subfamily of Vesper Bats from the family Vespertilionidae.-Genera:*Eudiscopus *Pipistrellus *Scotozous *Nyctalus...
- Eudiscopus (Disk-footed bat)
- Pipistrellus
Pipistrellus is a genus of bats in the family Vespertilionidae and subfamily Vespertilioninae. The name of the genus is derived from the Italian word Pipistrello, meaning "bat"....
(Pipistrelles or Pipistrelle bats)
- Scotozous (Dormer's bat)
- Nyctalus
The bat genus Nyctalus are members of the family Vespertilionidae or sometimes Evening bats. They are distributed in the temperate and subtropical areas of Europe, Asia and North Africa.There are six species within this genus:...
(Noctule bats)
- Glischropus
Glischropus is a genus of bats within the Vespertilionidae or "Vesper bats" family. Species within this genus are:*Javan Thick-thumbed Bat *Common Thick-thumbed Bat **Subspecies Glischropus tylopus tylopus...
(Thick-thumbed bats)
- Eptesicus
Eptesicus or house bats are a genus of bats in the Vespertilionidae family.Species within this genus are:*Little black serotine *Bobrinski's Serotine *Botta's Serotine...
(House bats)
- Ia
Ia is a genus of bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It belongs to the subfamily Vespertilioninae and has been placed in the tribe Vespertilionini. It has also been placed within the genus Pipistrellus, which used to contain many more species than it does now...
(Great evening bats)
- Vespertilio
Vespertilio is a genus of bats in the Vespertilionidae family. Species within this genus are:*Parti-coloured bat *Asian Parti-colored Bat -References:...
(Frosted bats)
- Laephotis
Laephotis is a genus of bats in the family Vespertilionidae. Species within this genus are:*Angolan Long-eared Bats *Botswanan Long-eared Bat *Namib Long-eared Bat...
(long-eared bata)
- Histiotus
Histiotus is a genus of South American vesper bats. Species within this genus are:*Strange Big-eared Brown Bat *Humboldt Big-eared Brown Bat *Thomas's Big-eared Brown Bat...
(Big-eared Brown bats)
- Philetor (Rohu's Bat)
- Tylonycteris
Tylonycteris is a genus of bats within the Vespertilionidae or "Vesper bats" family. Species within this genus are:* Lesser Bamboo Bat, Tylonycteris pachypus* Pygmy Bamboo Bat, Tylonycteris pygmaeus* Greater Bamboo Bat, Tylonycteris robustula...
(Bamboo bats)
- Mimetillus (Moloney's Mimic Bat)
- Hesperoptenus
Hesperoptenus is a genus of bats within the Vespertilionidae or "Vesper bats" family. Species within this genus are:*Blanford's Bat *False Serotine Bat...
- Chalinolobus
Bats of the genus Chalinolobus are commonly known as pied, wattled, or long-tailed bats. They have fleshy lobes at the bottom edge of their ears and on their lower lips...
(Wattled bats)
- Glauconycteris
Glauconycteris is a genus of vespertilionid bats.-Species:Glauconycteris is a genus of vespertilionid bats.-Species:Glauconycteris is a genus of vespertilionid bats.-Species::Glauconycteris alboguttata - Allen's striped bat...
(Butterfly bats)
- Nycticeius
The genus Nycticeius is in the family Vespertilionidae and contains two species, the Evening Bat and the Cuban Evening Bat...
(Evening bats)
- Nycticeinops (Schlieffen's Twilight bat)
- Scoteanax (Greater Broad-nosed bats)
- Scotorepens
Scotorepens is a genus of bats within the Vespertilionidae or "Vesper bats" family. Species within this genus are:*Western Broad-nosed Bat Scotorepens balstoni*Little Broad-nosed Bat Scotorepens greyii*Orion Broad-nosed Bat Scotorepens orion...
(Lesser Broad-nosed bats)
- Scotoecus
Scotoecus is a genus of bats in the family Vespertilionidae.-Species:Scotoecus is a genus of bats in the family Vespertilionidae.-Species:Scotoecus is a genus of bats in the family Vespertilionidae.-Species:...
(House bats)
- Rhogeessa
Rhogeessa is a genus of bats within the Vespertilionidae or "Vesper bats" family. Species within this genus are:*Yucatan Yellow Bat *Allen's Yellow Bat *Genoways's Yellow Bat...
(Rhogeessa bats)
- Scotomanes (Harlequin bat)
- Scotophilus
Scotophilus is a genus of vespertilionid bats.-Species:Scotophilus is a genus of vespertilionid bats.-Species:Scotophilus is a genus of vespertilionid bats.-Species::Scotophilus borbonicus - lesser yellow bat...
(Yellow bats)
- Otonycteris (Desert Long-eared bats)
- Lasiurus
Lasiurus is the genus comprising hairy-tailed bats. The name Lasiurus is derived from the Greek lasios and oura . It contains some of the most attractive bats in the whole continent of North America including such species as the red bat, L. borealis, and the hoary bat, L. cinereus...
(Hairy-tailed bats)
- Barbastella
Barbastella is a genus of vespertilionid bats.-Species:Barbastella is a genus of vespertilionid bats.-Species:Barbastella is a genus of vespertilionid bats.-Species::Barbastella barbastellus - western barbastelle...
(Barbastelles or Barbastelle bats)
- Plecotus
The genus Plecotus consists of the lump-nosed bats. Many species in the genus have only recently been described and recognized in recent years.-References:*...
(Lump-nosed bats)
- Idionycteris (Allen's Big-eared bat)
- Euderma (Spotted bat)
- Nyctophilus
Nyctophilus is a genus of bats within the Vespertilionidae or "Vesper bats" family. Species within this genus are:*Northern Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus arnhemensis*Nyctophilus bifax**Subspecies Nyctophilus bifax bifax...
(New Guinean and Australian Big-eared bats)
- Pharotis (New Guinea Big-eared Bat)
- Corynorhinus
The genus Corynorhinus consists of the lump-nosed bats, or American long-eared bats. Only three species occur in the genus, all occurring in North America. Members of this group were previously in the genus Plecotus. Populations of these species are generally uncommon and declining. Two...
(American Lump-nosed bats)
- Hypsugo
The genus Hypsugo contains many bats referred to as pipistrelles or pipistrelle bats. They belong to the family Vespertilionidae or vesper bats within the order Chiroptera.-Species:*Hypsugo alaschanicus...
(Asian pipistrelles)
- Subfamily Murininae
Murininae is a subfamily of bats in the family Vespertilionidae. They include the tube-nosed bats and hairy-winged bats in the genera Murina, Harpiola, and Harpiocephalus....
- Murina
Murina is a genus of vesper bats.-Reference:* Kuo, H.-C.; Fang, Y.-P.; Csorba G. & Lee, L.-L. 2009. Three New Species of Murina from Taiwan. Journal of Mammalogy 90 : 980-991....
(Tube-nosed Insectivorous bats)
- Harpiocephalus
Harpiocephalus is a genus of bats within the Vespertilionidae or "Vesper bats" family. Species within this genus are:*Hairy-winged Bat **Subspecies Harpiocephalus harpia harpia**Subspecies Harpiocephalus harpia lasyurus...
(Hairy-winged bats)
- Subfamily Myotinae
Myotinae is a subfamily of vesper bats....
- Cistugo
Cislugo is a genus of vespertilionid bats. It is one of the three genera in the subfamily Myotinae.-Species:...
(Wing-gland bats)
- Myotis (Little Brown bats)
- Lasionycteris (Silver-haired bats)
- Subfamily Miniopterinae
- Miniopterus
Miniopterus is a genus of vesper bats and the only genus of subfamily Miniopterinae.-References:*Goodman, S. M., K. E. Ryan, C. P. Maminirina, J. Fahr, L. Christidis, and B. Appleton. 2007. Specific status of populations on Madagascar referred to Miniopterus fraterculus , with description of a...
(Long-winged bats)
- Subfamily Kerivoulinae
Kerivoulinae is a subfamily of vesper bats. Genera within this subfamily are:*Phoniscus*Kerivoula...
- Kerivoula
Kerivoula is a genus of vesper bats in the subfamily Kerivoulinae.Species within this genus are:*Tanzanian Woolly Bat *St...
(Painted bats)
- Phoniscus
Phoniscus is a genus of vesper bat in the Vespertilionidae family.It contains the following species:* Dubious Trumpet-Eared Bat * Groove-Toothed Bat * Peter's Trumpet-Eared Bat...
The above grouping of subfamilies is the classification according to Simmons and Geisler (1998). Other authorities raise three subfamilies more: Antrozoinae (which is here the separate family of
Pallid batThe Pallid Bat is a species of bat in the vesper bat family which ranges from western Canada to central Mexico. Pallid bats have larger eyes than most other species of bats in North America and have pale, long, and wide ears; their fur is generally lightly colored...
s), Tomopeatinae (now regarded as a subfamily of the
Free-tailed batMolossidae, or free-tailed bats, are a family of bats within the order Chiroptera. They are generally quite robust, and consist of many strong flying forms with relatively long and narrow wings. Another common name for some members of this group, and indeed a few species from other families, is...
s) and Nyctophilinae (here included in Vespertilioninae).
Further reading
- Corbet, GB, Hill JE. 1992. The mammals of the Indomalayan region: a systematic review. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
- Karim, C., A.A. Tuen and M.T. Abdullah. 2004. Mammals. Sarawak Museum Journal Special Issue No. 6. 80: 221-234.
- Wilson DE, Reeder DM. 2005. Mammal species of the world. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC.