Eighteen living families, 174 genera, and about 900 living species. One family. Genera.... tail interfemor

Generally large, fruit- or flower-feeding; lack acoustic orientation (except Rousettus ); ears small, eyes large, vision well-developed; generally roost in trees, often colonial; often show countershading, cryptic markings, or bright fur colours or patterns. Index finger generally clawed, tail short or lacking, interfemoral membrane reduced. Tail very long and largely free beyond a narrow interfemoral membrane, forearm very long, ears large, small nose leaf, primitive shoulder girdle. Dental formula 2 . 1 . Tropical distribution from northern Africa through southern Asia as far as Sumatra; 1 genus, 3 species. Ears large but simply shaped, eyes small, muzzle sharp but plain; tail short, perforating dorsal surface of well-developed interfemoral membrane. Ears large, wings broad, tail long with bifid (split) end, calcars (heel bones) greatly elongated, tail and calcars supporting well-developed interfemoral mem brane. Roosts usually dark and humid, some species roosting externa! lly in jungle canopy. Generally form small nontouching colonies, but some are solitary. Distributed through most of tropical Africa, Malaysia, and Indonesia; 1 genus, 13 species. External ears very large and fused across midline; tragus bifid; nose leaf large with truncated end; eyes relatively large; wings broad, interfemoral membrane well-developed and supported distally by heel bones, no external tail. Insectiv orous, principally on terrestrial arthropods, as in Nycteridae; at least 2 species, Megaderma lyra and Macroderma gigas , also feed on small vertebrates hunted and taken in the same fashion as arthropod prey. Small to large bats. Complex nose leaf with subordinate leaflets and compartments; large ears, widely separated and highly mobile, antitragus well-developed; interfemoral membrane well-developed, tail generally projecting slightly beyond distal edge of membrane. Dental formula 2 . Mostly colonial, nontouching, and roosting in humid caves, tree hollows, culver! ts, or buildings. Old World tropics; 9 genera, about 60 specie! s, the genus Hipposideros particularly successful in numbers of species and individuals throughout the Old World tropics. Small to moderately large size. Complex nose leaf; large, highly mobile ears, well-developed antitragus; wings short and rounded; well-developed interfemoral membrane, supported by tail; calcanea (backs of heels) weak. Dental formula 2 . Old World, including parts of western Europe, Central Asia, and Japan; 2 genera, about 70 species, the genus Rhinolophus one of the most successful in species and numbers. Dental formula 1 . Tail well developed, extending to midpoint of large interfemoral membrane, which is pierced dorsally by tail tip, membrane supported distally by very well-developed calcars and calcanea. Feet large, or very large ( N. Walk well, often roost in crevices, tree hollows, attics, grottoes, and caves; colonial, in touching clusters. Tropical America; 1 genus, 2 species. Tail and interfemoral membrane well-developed. Dental formula 2 . Smal! l to large size. Nose leaf simply shaped, ears often large and mobile, wings generally short and broad, tail and interfemoral membrane quite varied (from absent to well-developed); dental formula varied, from 26 to 34; fur colour and patterns varied. Colonial, often densely so; generally roosting in touching clusters in caves, tree hollows, buildings, or culverts or in the open under bridges or eaves, in the crests of palm trees, or on the underside of palm leaves. Many Stenoderminae have white or light facial stripes, may roost in the open; 2 species alter palm leaves as roosts. Teeth highly specialized for cutting skin, cheek teeth reduced; dental formula in Desmodus 2 . Tail absent; interfemoral membrane reduced. Roost in caves, hollow trees, and culverts; colonial. Well-developed tail and interfemoral membrane. Ears large; snout plain: dental formula 3 . Central America, and northern South America, West Indies; 1 genus, 4 species. Thumb vestigial; snout plain; tail long! , ending short of distal edge of well-developed interfemoral membrane; ! legs long; feet small. Northern South America; 2 genera, 2 species. Second finger reduced to rudiment, base of thumb and sole provided with sucking disk, simple muzzle, ears large; dental formula 3 . Insectivorous, roost alone or in small groups, often in still furled banana leaves. Central America and northern South America, excluding West Indies; 1 genus, 2 species. Small, plain muzzle, large ears with peculiar mushroom shaped lobe, dental formula 3 . Thumb and sole with adhesive disks, vestigial thumb claw; tail extends free beyond interfemoral membrane; specialized scapulo-humeral articulations. Probably insectivorous (biology unknown); endemic to Madagascar; 1 species. Muzzle plain; eyes small; ears moderate to large, tragus well-developed; dental formula varied, 2 . Wings gener ally long and moderately narrow; tail and interfemoral membrane well-developed. Mostly roost in caves, attics, barns, hollow trees, boulder heaps, the twig work of birds' nests, or roof thatchi! ng; a few ( Lasiurus ) roost in branches, on tree trunks, or in hollow core of bamboo ( Tylonycteris ). Many temperate species hibernate and migrate; many drably coloured; several that roost externally are either spotted ( Euderma ) or speckled ( Lasiurus ). Family worldwide to tree line, including many oceanic islands; some genera ( Myotis , Eptesicus , and Pipistrellus ) also worldwide; 35 genera, about 290 species. Dental formula 1 . New Zealand; 1 species. Robustly built, small to very large. Tail projects well beyond well-developed interfemoral membrane; ears large, rather immobile, often fused to one another, and of very unusual shapes; lips and snout often heavy, eyes tiny. Wings very long and narrow; legs well-developed for walking; toes often bear bristles; dental formula varied from 1 . Worldwide in tropics and subtropics, with a few species ranging into mild temperate regions; 11 genera, about 90 species (the genus Tadarida worldwide). tail interfemor