New World leaf-nosed bats are a common and diverse group that includes around 143 species, placed in 49 genera. The relationships of these genera are not fully understood. Currently, living phyllostomids are arranged in 7 or 8 subfamilies. The Phyllostominae includes carnivorous, insectivorous, and fruit-eating species. Members of this subfamily tend to have a number of primitive characteristics. The Glossophaginae is made up of nectar feeders, bats with remarkable adaptations of tongue and rostrum for extracting nectar and pollen. They are also capable of hovering flight. The monophyly of this group is open to question; some nectar feeders are sometimes placed in the separate subfamily, Lonchophyllinae. The Carolliinae includes a small group of frugivores, possibly related to glossophagines. The subfamily Stenodermatinae is the largest of the family. Stenodermatines are primarily fruit-eaters, and many show strong specializations for frugivory. The Brachyphyllinae is a group of fruit and nectar eating species restricted to the West Indies. They may be related to stenodermatines or glossophagines. Finally, the Desmodontinae comprises the vampires, a group of 3 species that rely entirely on blood for food.
The most conspicuous characteristic of phyllostomids is a "noseleaf," a fleshy protuberance from the nose that ranges from in size from nearly as long as the head to, in a few species, complete absence. Many species also have bumps, warts, and other protuberances on the head near the noseleaf or on the chin. In most species, the noseleaf is a relatively simple spear-shaped structure, not nearly as complex as that of rhinolophids.
Phyllostomids lack postorbital processes, and their premaxillae are complete and fused to each other and to the maxillae. The palatal branches of the premaxillae isolate two lateral palatal foramina. The bony tails of phyllostomids vary from apparently absent to long, even extending slightly beyond the edge of the uropatagium. A tragus is present.
 baby pall bat |
 chemexi long tongued bat |
 hairy legged vampire bat |
 mexicana bat |
 new world leaf nosed bat |
 vampire bat |
Suborder Megachiroptera
Family Pteropodidae (Old World fruit-eating bats)
Suborder Microchiroptera
Family Rhinopomatidae (long-tailed or mouse-tailed bats) Family Craseonycteridae (bumblebee bat) Family Emballonuridae (sac-winged or sheath-tailed bats) Family Nycteridae (slit-faced or hollow-faced bats) Family Megadermatidae (false vampire bats) Family Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats or Old-World leaf-nosed bats) Family Noctilionidae (bull-dog or mastiff bats) Family Mormoopidae (naked-backed bats) Family Phyllostomidae (New World leaf-nosed bats) Family Natalidae (funnel-eared or long legged bats) Family Furipteridae (smoky or thumbless bats) Family Thyropteridae (disc-winged bats) Family Myzopodidae (old world sucker-footed bats) Family Vespertilionidae (evening bats) Family Mystacinidae (New Zealand short-tailed bats) Family Molossidae (free-tailed bats)<<<<<<<>>>>>>> ARTIODACTYLA CARNIVORA CETACEA CHIROPTERA DASYUROMORPHIA DERMOPTERA DIDELPHIMORPHI DIPROTODONTIA HYRACOIDEA INSECTIVORA LAGOMORPHA MACROSCELIDEA MICROBIOTHERIA MONOTREMATA NOTORYCTEMORPHIA PAUCITUBERCULATA PERAMELEMORPHIA PERISSODACTYLA PHOLIDOTA PRIMATES PROBOSCIDEA RODENTIA SCANDENTIA SIRENIA TUBULIDENTATA XENARTHRA
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