VMD 512: Zoo/Wild Animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

CHIROPTERA

• Nearly a quarter of the living mammals belong to the group of bats. This order has about 951 species of bats.
• They are mostly nocturnal in habits with very small eyes coupled with poor vision.
• These are the only mammals that are capable of maintain a sustained flight. Echolocation is the technique being used by bats to locate the prey species.
• However, the fruit bats may have a well developed eyes and echolocation is poor in them.

Microchiroptera

• Small insectivorous bats are grouped in this category. These mammals are the gregarious in nature. In day time, they are seen hanging in tree branches or crevices with their head down. They live on night-flying insects.
• Example : Desmodus and Rhindophus

Macrochiroptera

• This order contains large sized bats like fruit bats or fruit eating bats that are commonly called as the flying foxes.
• They don’t have any tail but have an elongated snout.
• They also live in groups and are seen hanging upside down in tall trees often.
• During the hanging, the wings are tucked up in the folded condition. They are also nocturnal and gregarious in nature