chiroptera

Echolocating winged mammals

Chiroptera is the scientific order comprising all bats—the only mammals capable of true sustained flight.

The name comes from Greek words meaning "hand-wing," describing how bat wings are formed from elongated finger bones covered by membrane.

The term appears mainly in zoological and technical contexts: Chiroptera represent about 20 percent of all mammal species. (Capitalized Chiroptera is the standard taxonomic form.)

informal

bat

Flying mammal or sports club

  • batsFlying nocturnal mammals
  • flyingMoving through air
  • mammalWarm-blooded, milk-producing animal

nocturnal · wings

Categories
Opposites
locomotion type

chiropteraaquatic mammals

Warm-blooded ocean dwellers

activity pattern

chiropteraungulates

Hoof-bearing animals

primates · apes · songbirds

taxonomic confusion

chiropterabirds

Egg-laying flying vertebrates

rodents

Family

chirality, chiropractor, chiropractic, pterodactyl, pterosaur, helicopter, diptera, hymenoptera

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