Thyropteridae
Encyclopedia
Disc-winged bats are a small group of bats of the family Thyropteridae. They are found in Central
and South America
, usually in moist tropical rain forests. It is a very small family, consisting of a single genus
with four species.
The name comes from the suction cups found at the base of the thumb and under the heel of these animals, similar to those found in Sucker-footed Bats. These structures help them to cling smooth surfaces, and to remain, for example, inside young coiled banana and Heliconia
leaves, where they roost.
They can also be recognized by their reduced thumb, which is enclosed by the wing membranes, and their funnel-shaped ears. They have brownish to black fur, and roost in small groups, or singly. They are insectivorous
and can live in many different kinds of environments.
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, usually in moist tropical rain forests. It is a very small family, consisting of a single genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
with four species.
The name comes from the suction cups found at the base of the thumb and under the heel of these animals, similar to those found in Sucker-footed Bats. These structures help them to cling smooth surfaces, and to remain, for example, inside young coiled banana and Heliconia
Heliconia
Heliconia, derived from the Greek word helikonios, is a genus of about 100 to 200 species of flowering plants native to the tropical Americas and the Pacific Ocean islands west to Indonesia. Many species of Heliconia are found in rainforests or tropical wet forests of these regions...
leaves, where they roost.
They can also be recognized by their reduced thumb, which is enclosed by the wing membranes, and their funnel-shaped ears. They have brownish to black fur, and roost in small groups, or singly. They are insectivorous
Insectivore
An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....
and can live in many different kinds of environments.
Taxonomy
FAMILY THYROPTERIDAE- Genus Thyroptera
- Thyroptera devivoi
- Peter's Disk-winged BatPeter's Disk-winged BatPeter's Disk-winged Bat, Thyroptera discifera, is a bat species from South and Central America.-External links:*...
, Thyroptera discifera - LaVal's Disk-winged BatLaVal's disk-winged batLaVal's disk-winged bat, Thyroptera lavali, is a species of bat in the family Thyropteridae. It is native to Ecuador, Peru, and possibly Venezuela, where it has been found near streams in tropical rainforest. The bat is insectivorous. It is poorly studied but is believed to be rare. The species was...
, Thyroptera lavali - Spix's Disk-winged BatSpix's Disk-winged BatSpix's Disk-winged Bat, Thyroptera tricolor, is a bat species from South and Central America. It ranges from south Mexico to Bolivia.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 26 October 2008.*...
, Thyroptera tricolor