Cheiromeles

''Cheiromeles'' is a genus of bats in the family Molossidae, the free-tailed bats. 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.Leong, T. M., et al. (2009)
The naked bulldog bat, ''Cheiromeles torquatus'' in Singapore—past and present records, with highlights on its unique morphology (Microchiroptera: Molossidae).
''Nature in Singapore'' 2, 215-30. These bats have mostly hairless bodies and fold their wings into pouches of skin along their bodies when at rest. These are among the largest insectivorous bats, weighing up to 135 grams.Norberg, U. M. L. & Norberg, R. Å. (2012)
Scaling of wingbeat frequency with body mass in bats and limits to maximum bat size.
''The Journal of Experimental Biology'' 215(5), 711-22.

There are two species in this genus:
*Lesser naked bat ''Cheiromeles parvidens''
* Hairless bat ''Cheiromeles torquatus''

References

Mammals of Southeast Asia
Bat genera
Taxa named by Thomas Horsfield

{{Molossidae-stub