Disk-winged bats are a small group of bats of the family Thyropteridae and genus ''Thyroptera''.
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
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
with five extant and one fossil 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, ''
Heliconia'', and prayer plant leaves, where they roost.
They can also be recognized by their reduced thumbs, which are 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.
Taxonomy
Family Tyropteridae
* Genus ''Thyroptera''
**
De Vivo's disk-winged bat, ''Thyroptera devivoi''
**
Peters's disk-winged bat, ''Thyroptera discifera''
**
LaVal's disk-winged bat, ''Thyroptera lavali''
**
Spix's disk-winged bat, ''Thyroptera tricolor''
**
Patricia's disk-winged bat, ''Thyroptera wynneae''
** †''
Thyroptera robusta'',
Middle Miocene
The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), epoch made up of two Stage (stratigraphy), stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene.
The sub-epoch lasted from 15.97 ± 0. ...
(
Laventan)
Honda Group, Colombia''Thyroptera robusta''
at Fossilworks.org
References
Bat genera
Taxa named by Johann Baptist von Spix
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