Table of Contents

Introduction 6 What is a bat?Evolution Diversity Mega and microBiology Anatomy Senses Flight EcholocationBehavior Foraging, hunting, and diet Social structure Reproduction Migration HibernationEcology Habitat Distribution Economic importance Conservation Endangered and recently extinct speciesSpecies Accounts 36-390 Suborder Megachiroptera (Order Chiroptera) Pteropodidae Suborder Microchiroptera (Microbats) Superfamily Emballonuroidea Emballonuridae (sac-winged or sheath-tailed bats) Superfamily Molossoidea Molossidae (free-tailed bats) Superfamily Nataloidea Furipteridae (smoky bats) Myzopodidae (sucker-footed bats) Natalidae (funnel-eared bats) Thyropteridae (disk-winged bats) Superfamily Noctilionoidea Mormoopidae (ghost-faced or moustached bats) Mystacinidae (New Zealand short-tailed bats) Noctilionidae (bulldog bats or fisherman bats) Phyllostomidae (leaf-nosed bats) Superfamily Rhinolophoidea Megadermatidae (false vampires) Nycteridae (hollow-faced or slit-faced bats) Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats) Hipposideridae (Old World leaf-nosed bats) Superfamily Rhinopomatoidea Craseonycteridae (Bumblebee bat) Rhinopomatidae (mouse-tailed bats) Superfamily Vespertilionoidea Vespertilionidae (vesper bats or evening bats) Antrozoidae (Pallid bat and Van Gelder's bat)Resources 392 Index 394 Acknowledgments 400

About the Author

Marianne Taylor (California, USA) is a freelance writer, illustrator, photographer and editor. She worked for seven years in natural history publishing, and her particular interest in owls was sparked by a period in 2005 working with bird ringers studying Ural, Tengmalm's and Eagle Owls in the forests of Sweden. She has written on a range of natural history subjects and her er previous books include the RSPB British Birds of Prey.