Family EMBALLONURIDAE
Compiler and date details
31 Dec 1998 - J.A. Mahoney & D.W. Walton (1988); updated by Barry J. Richardson (1999), Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury
Introduction
Although bats of this family occur throughout most of the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, in Australia the family is represented only by species of the genera Taphazous and Saccolaimus.
The family is characterised by well-developed postorbital processes and premaxillae represented only by two nasal portions which are not fused either with the maxillae or each other. The greater tuberosity of the humerus does not articulate with the scapula. The ears include a tragus. The tail perforates the dorsal surface of the interfemoral membrane anterior to the trailing edge of the membrane and the peculiar association between these two structures is such that the surface area of the membrane supported by the tail can be varied. The facial area of emballonurids is rather sharp in appearance, the eyes are conspicuous and the nose lacks foliaceous adornment.
Varyingly social, roosts include a wide array of sites. All species are insectivorous. While neither migration nor hibernation are confirmed among Australian emballonurids, their range extends into temperate areas where either one or both activities could exist.
References
Kitchener, D.J. 1989. Emballonuridae. pp. 845–851 in Walton, D.W. & Richardson, B.J. (eds). Fauna of Australia. Volume 1B. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service pp. 827