Palaeos		Chiroptera
Vertebrates		Chiroptera

Chiroptera

LAURASIATHERIA
| 
`--CHIROPTERA 

Taxa on This Page

1. Chiroptera

Descriptions

Icaronycteris index.  Upper Eocene of Montana (Green R. fm.). The bones that appear to be posterior processes from the elbow area are phalanges. The carpal joint is flexed 180°, and the hand lies under the forearm.

Range: fr upPc. 

Phylogeny: choice of three (or add your own)
traditional morphology: Archonta :: Dermoptera + *. ;
molecular phylogeny: Laurasiatheria : Eulipotyphla + (Ferungulata + *)
an idiosyncratic attempt at synthesis inspired by Wible et al 2009: Eutheria ::: Laurasiatheria + (Euarchontaglires : Archonta + (Insectivora + Afrotheria) + *) MAK120319

Characters: First set of teeth with long, sharp, recurved cusps; jugal reduced, & does not contact lacrimal; two entotympanic elements; posterior laminae present on ribs; extensive use of echolocation with complex adaptations of brain; clavicle large element & articulates with sternal manubrium and with acromion & coracoid processes of scapula; clavicle primary brace for pectoral girdle; scapula relatively unconstrained & can rotate around longitudinal axis; forelimbs & digits (except digit 1) elongated; specialized carpal & elbow joints limited to movement in anteroposterior plane (to control wing membranes in flight and reduce weight of joint?); presence of ulnar patella ("elbow cap"?); distal ulna reduced; flight membranes (patagia) between arm and 5th digit, between digits, hind limbs and tail, and "arm" and neck region; wings have high and variable camber, low wing loading, & low aspect ratio for controlled, high-lift, low-speed flight; chiropatagium between III & IV most important; muscles and elastic fibers in patagia; flight & recovery strokes involve several muscle groups and are less stereotyped than in birds; hind limb usually rotated 90 or 180 degrees from usual mammalian orientation, thin but not reduced in length; fibula usually reduced; complex social behavior and communication; heterothermy (reduced metabolism during daily torpor cycle) in some forms as well as hibernation; relatively slow, highly maneuverable flight; many have secondary flight style for very slow or hovering flight (involves wings well anterior to usual level flight position); no cecum; nocturnal or crepescular; numerous ecological guilds. 

Links: Willie's Chiroptera Page; Chiroptera; Chiroptera Italica; Comparative Mammalian Brain Collections; Canadian Bat Resources; World bibliography on subterranean Mammalia, Chiroptera; A Checklist of the Mammals of the World: Chiroptera (Bats); Kentucky Bat Working Group (there are many good bat sites, but this may be Best on the Web).  ATW