Family EMBALLONURIDAE

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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.

General References

Kitchener, D.J. 1989. Emballonuridae. pp. 845-851 in Walton, D.W. & Richardson, B.J. (eds). Fauna of Australia. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1B 827 pp.

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