false vampire bat

false vampire bat

mammal
      any of certain bats of the Old World genera Megaderma, Cardioderma, and Macroderma (family Megadermatidae) and the New World genera Vampyrum and Chrotopterus (family Phyllostomatidae), conspicuous because of their large size and originally thought to feed on blood, as do the true vampire bats. The false vampires are now known to be carnivorous, preying mainly on small vertebrates such as other bats, lizards, and mice.

      These large, grayish or brownish bats range in size from 6.5 cm (about 2.5 inches) for Megaderma species up to 14 cm for the Australian false vampire, or ghost, bat (Macroderma gigas), the largest bat in the suborder Microchiroptera. The tropical American false vampire (Vampyrum spectrum), measuring about 13.5 cm, is the largest New World bat. False vampires are tailless (except Chrotopterus, which has a tiny tail), and each species has a conspicuous nose leaf (a flap of skin and connective tissue around the nostrils) and large rounded ears. In the megadermatids the ears are joined at the base, which may help stabilize them during flight, and the eyes are relatively large.

      False vampires roost in caves and hollow trees; Vampyrum species often roost in pairs with some of their offspring. The African false vampire (Cardioderma cor), which eats mostly large invertebrates, forages by hanging in wait, listening for its prey. The capture is made with a short, rapid flight. The Australian false vampire is considered an endangered species.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • false vampire bat — noun any New or Old World carnivorous bat erroneously thought to suck blood but in fact feeding on insects • Syn: ↑false vampire • Hypernyms: ↑leafnose bat, ↑leaf nosed bat • Hyponyms: ↑big eared bat, ↑Megaderma lyra …   Useful english dictionary

  • Greater False Vampire Bat — Megaderma lyra Conservation status Least Concern ( …   Wikipedia

  • Lesser False Vampire Bat — Conservation status Least Concern ( …   Wikipedia

  • American false vampire bat — amerikinis netikrasis vampyras statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Vampyrum spectrum angl. American false vampire bat; American tropical false vampire bat; giant spear nosed bat; great false vampire;… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • American tropical false vampire bat — amerikinis netikrasis vampyras statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Vampyrum spectrum angl. American false vampire bat; American tropical false vampire bat; giant spear nosed bat; great false vampire;… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Linnaeus’ false vampire bat — amerikinis netikrasis vampyras statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Vampyrum spectrum angl. American false vampire bat; American tropical false vampire bat; giant spear nosed bat; great false vampire;… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Australian giant false vampire bat — australinis netikrasis vampyras statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Macroderma gigas angl. Australian false vampire; Australian ghost bat; Australian giant false vampire bat; false vampire; ghost bat vok …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Peters’ false vampire bat — ilgaplaukis netikrasis vampyras statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Chrotopterus auritus angl. Peters’ false vampire; Peters’ false vampire bat; Peters’ woolly false vampire bat rus. длинноволосый ложный… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Peters’ woolly false vampire bat — ilgaplaukis netikrasis vampyras statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Chrotopterus auritus angl. Peters’ false vampire; Peters’ false vampire bat; Peters’ woolly false vampire bat rus. длинноволосый ложный… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • African false vampire bat — afrikinis netikrasis vampyras statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Cardioderma cor angl. African false vampire bat; heart nosed bat; heart nosed big eared bat; heart nosed false vampire vok.… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

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