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Free-tailed Bats
Fossil range: Late Eocene to Recent
Unidentified molossid. Note that the tail extends beyond the uropatagium
Unidentified molossid. The Eocene epoch (558 ± 02 - 339 ± 01 Ma) is a major division of the Geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Palaeogene period in Note that the tail extends beyond the uropatagium
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Molossidae
Gervais in de Castelnau, 1855
Genera

See Text

The family (biology) Molossidae, or Free-tailed bats, are generally quite robust bats, and consist of many strong flying forms with relatively long and narrow wings. Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands Paul Gervais full name François Louis Paul Gervaise ( September 26, 1816 - February 10, 1879) was a French Palaeontologist François Louis Nompar de Caumont La Force, comte de Castelnau' ( 25 December 1810 – 4 February 1880) was a French naturalist A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Family denotes a group of People affiliated by consanguinity affinity or co-residence Another common name for some members of this group, and indeed a few species from other families, is Mastiff Bat. The name Mastiff Bat is applied to certain species of the bat family Molossidae or so called Free-tailed Bats The Western mastiff bat, Eumops perotis, a large species from the southwestern United States and Mexico with wings almost two feet across, is perhaps one of the best known with this name. The Western Mastiff Bat, ( Eumops perotis) also known as the Western bonneted bat, is a member of the Free-tailed bat family ( Molossidae The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. They are widespread, being found on every continent except Antarctica.

The family name is derived from a length of "free" tail, projecting beyond the end of the uropatagium - the membrane that connects the base of the tail to the hind legs. The tail is usually best seen when resting. A special ring of cartilage slides up or down the tail vertebrae by muscular action to stretch or retract the tail membrane. Cartilage is a type of dense Connective tissue. It is composed of specialized cells called chondrocytes that produce a large amount of extracellular matrix A vertebra (plural vertebrae) is an individual Irregular bone in the spinal or Vertebral column ( aka ischis a flexuous and flexible column This gives many species a degree of fine tuning in their flight maneuvers to rival their day flying ecological equivalents, such as Swifts, Swallows and Martins. The swifts are a family Apodidae, of highly aerial Birds They are superficially similar to Swallows but are actually not closely related to those The swallows and martins are a group of Passerine Birds in the family Hirundinidae which are characterised by their adaptation to aerial As a result, these animals include the fastest flying of all bat species among their number[1]. The dental formula of Free-tailed bats varies between species:

1. Dentition is the development of Teeth and their arrangement in the Mouth. 1. 1-2. 2-3
1-3. 1. 2. 3

Free-tailed bats are usually grey, brown, or black in color, although there are some exceptions. They range from 4 to 12 cm in length, excluding the tail, and can weigh anything from 8 to 220 grams, depending on species. They are insectivorous, and catch their food on the wing. An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of Insects and similar small creatures While some species roost in small groups in hollow trees or rocky crevices, some cave-dwelling species form vast colonies of up to fifty million individuals[1].

Classification

There are sixteen genera and eighty five species in total:

References

  1. ^ a b (1984) in Macdonald, D. : The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File, 807. ISBN 0-87196-871-1.  

References in Borneo

Abdullah MT. 2003. Biogeography and variation of Cynopterus brachyotis in Southeast Asia. PhD thesis. The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.

Corbet, GB, Hill JE. 1992. The mammals of the Indomalayan region: a systematic review. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Hall LS, Gordon G. Grigg, Craig Moritz, Besar Ketol, Isa Sait, Wahab Marni and M. T. Abdullah. 2004. Biogeography of fruit bats in Southeast Asia. Sarawak Museum Journal LX(81):191-284.

Karim, C. , A. A. Tuen and M. T. Abdullah. 2004. Mammals. Sarawak Museum Journal Special Issue No. 6. 80: 221—234.

Mohd. Azlan J. , Ibnu Maryanto , Agus P. Kartono and M. T. Abdullah. 2003 Diversity, Relative Abundance and Conservation of Chiropterans in Kayan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Sarawak Museum Journal 79: 251-265.

Hall LS, Richards GC, Abdullah MT. 2002. The bats of Niah National Park, Sarawak. Sarawak Museum Journal. 78: 255-282.

Wilson DE, Reeder DM. 2005. Mammal species of the world. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC.

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