Noctilionidae, the bulldog bats or fishing bats, is a Neotropical family containing two living species in the single genus Noctilio, found from Mexico through Argentina and into the Caribbean, usually near water, plus at least one fossil species from the Miocene of Argentina. They are relatively large bats, 7 to 14 centimeters in head-body length with wingspans up to 60 centimeters, orange to brown in color, with large feet bearing powerful claws and full lips divided by a skin fold that gives them a bulldog-like face; cheek pouches add to the resemblance. The lesser bulldog bat is insectivorous while the greater bulldog bat feeds mainly on fish, detecting ripples on the water surface by echolocation.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Sources
1. Wikipedia: Bulldog bat
WikipediaIntroductionQuote, Introduction
The bat family Noctilionidae, commonly known as bulldog bats or fishing bats, is represented by two extant species, the greater and the lesser bulldog bats, as well as at least one fossil species, Noctilio lacrimaelunaris, from the Miocene of Argentina.
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