Biology:Cheiromeles

From HandWiki
Short description: Genus of bats

Cheiromeles
Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.MAM.32387.b ven - Cheiromeles torquatus - skin.jpeg
Cheiromeles torquatus museum specimen
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Cheiromeles
Horsfield, 1824
Type species
Cheiromeles torquata
Horsfield, 1824
Species

2, see text

Cheiromeles is a genus of bats in the family Molossidae, the free-tailed bats.[1] The genus was erected and described by Thomas Horsfield, who developed the name from the Greek word cheir ("hand"), a reference to the hand-like hindfoot, which has a toe that flexes like an opposable thumb.[2] These bats have mostly hairless bodies and fold their wings into pouches of skin along their bodies when at rest.[3] These are among the largest insectivorous bats, weighing up to 135 grams.[4]

There are two species in this genus:[2]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q1963129 entry