The

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Natalidae, or funnel-eared bats, are found from

Mexico Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guate ...

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

and the Caribbean islands. The family has three

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial ...

, ''

Chilonatalus The genus ''Chilonatalus'' of funnel-eared bats is found in South America and the Antilles The Antilles (; gcf, label=Antillean Creole, Antiy; es, Antillas; french: Antilles; nl, Antillen; ht, Antiy; pap, Antias; Jamaican Patois: ''Ant ...

'', ''

Natalus The genus ''Natalus'' of funnel-eared bats is found from Mexico to Brazil and the Caribbean islands. They are slender bats with unusually long tails and, as their name suggests, funnel-shaped ears. They are small, at only 3.5 to 5.5 cm in l ...

'' and ''

Nyctiellus Gervais's funnel-eared bat (''Nyctiellus lepidus'') is a species of bat in the family Natalidae. It is the only species within the genus ''Nyctiellus''. It is found in Bahamas and Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, Re ...

''. They are slender bats with unusually long tails and, as their name suggests, funnel-shaped ears. They are small, at only in length, with brown, grey, or reddish fur. Like many other bats, they are

insectivorous A robber fly eating a hoverfly An insectivore is a carnivorous animal or plant that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which can also refer to the human practice of eating insects. The first vertebrate insectivores were ...

, and roost in caves.

Classification

Family Natalidae contains the following 10 species in 3 genera: *Genus ''

'' **

Cuban funnel-eared bat The Cuban funnel-eared bat (''Chilonatalus micropus'') is a species of bat in the family Natalidae. It is one of two species within the genus ''Chilonatalus'' and is found only in the Caribbean. Description All natalids have large, funnel-s ...

, ''Chilonatalus micropus'' **

Bahaman funnel-eared bat The Bahaman funnel-eared bat (''Chilonatalus tumidifrons'') is a species of bat in the family Natalidae. It is endemic to the Bahamas, in the northeastern Caribbean. It was first discovered by Miller in 1903. They are listed as "near threatene ...

, ''Chilonatalus tumidifrons'' *Genus ''

'' ** Brazilian funnel-eared bat, ''Natalus macrourus'' **

Jamaican greater funnel-eared bat The Jamaican greater funnel-eared bat (''Natalus jamaicensis'') is a species of funnel-eared bat found in Jamaica. It was first described as the subspecies ''Natalus major jamaicensis'', later as a subspecies of ''Natalus stramineus'', and more ...

, ''Natalus jamaicensis'' ** Hispaniolan greater funnel-eared bat, ''Natalus major'' **

Mexican greater funnel-eared bat The Mexican greater funnel-eared bat (''Natalus mexicanus'') is a species of bat found in Central America. While initially and currently described as a species, from 1959 to 2006 it was considered a subspecies of the Mexican funnel-eared bat, ...

, ''Natalus mexicanus'' **

Cuban greater funnel-eared bat The Cuban greater funnel-eared bat (''Natalus primus'') is a species of funnel-eared bat. It is endemic to a cave in westernmost Cuba. Taxonomy The bats within the genus ''Natalus'' have had a complex taxonomic history due to its morphological ...

, ''Natalus primus'' **

Mexican funnel-eared bat The Mexican funnel-eared bat (''Natalus stramineus'') is a bat species native to the Caribbean. Description The Mexican funnel-eared bat has very distinct funnel shaped ears, hence its name. The ears tilt forward, and the face has a triangular ...

, ''Natalus stramineus'' **

Trinidadian funnel-eared bat The Trinidadian funnel-eared bat (''Natalus tumidirostris'') is a species of bat in the family Natalidae. It is endemic to Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially th ...

, ''Natalus tumidirostris'' *Genus ''

'' **

Gervais's funnel-eared bat Gervais's funnel-eared bat (''Nyctiellus lepidus'') is a species of bat in the family Natalidae. It is the only species within the genus ''Nyctiellus''. It is found in Bahamas and Cuba. Sources Natalidae Mammals of Cuba Mammals des ...

, ''Nyctiellus lepidus''

References

Bat families Taxa named by John Edward Gray {{bat-stub