Definition of Chiroptera

1. Noun. An old order dating to early Eocene: bats: suborder Megachiroptera (fruit bats); suborder Microchiroptera (insectivorous bats).


Medical Definition of Chiroptera

1. The bats, an order of placental mammals of worldwide distribution, characterised by a modification of the forelimbs that enables them to fly. They are capable of emitting ultrasonic sounds that enable them to echolocate, find flying insect prey, and avoid objects in the dark. Though mostly insectivorous, some species feed on nectar, fruit, fish, and blood; the blood-feeding and insectivorous species are important reservoir hosts of rabies. Origin: chiro-+ G. Pteron, wing (05 Mar 2000)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Chiroptera

Chippendale
Chippewa
Chippewaian
Chippeway
Chippeways
Chippewyan
Chirag
Chiricahua
Chiricahua Apache
Chiricahuan
Chiricahuas
Chirico
Chirocephalus
Chiron
Chironomus
Chiroptera (current term)
Chisholm Trail
Chishona
Chisinau
Chislev
Chisox
Chita
Chitahuri
Chittagong
Chittagong District
Chittagong Division
Chittagonian
Chittoor
Chiwere
Chlamydera

Literary usage of Chiroptera

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Report of the Annual Meeting (1880)
"ONE of the chief results hoped for from the publication of my natural history of the order Chiroptera,1 as stated in the preface to that work, ..."

2. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1912)
"1'' Catalogue of the Chiroptera in the Collection of the British Museum,'' second edition, by Knud Andersen. Vol. I., Megachiroptera. ..."

3. The Families and Genera of Bats by Gerrit Smith Miller (1907)
"There are at present recognized about 900 forms of Chiroptera, ... They may be distinguished as follows: KEY TO THE SUBORDERS OF Chiroptera. ..."

4. The Geographical Distribution of Animals: With a Study of the Relations of by Alfred Russel Wallace (1876)
"Remarks on the Distribution of the Order Chiroptera. ... Fossil Chiroptera.—The fossil remains of bats that have yet been discovered, being chiefly allied ..."

5. The Zoological Record ...: Being Records of Zoological Literature by Zoological Record Association (London, England), Zoological Society of London (1881)
"On some New or Rare Species of Chiroptera in the Collection of the Göttingen Museum. ... On the determination of certain species of Chiroptera described by ..."

6. Vertebrate Zoölogy by Horatio Hackett Newman (1920)
"Chiroptera (BATS).—Bats may be defined as true flying mammals in which the ... Bats are divided into two sub-orders: Micro- chiroptera and Megachiroptera. ..."

7. Reports on the Progress of Zoology and Botany, 1841, 1842 by Ray Society, Heinrich Friedrich Link (1845)
"Chiroptera. MANY valuable contributions have been given to this order, ... Among the ten species of Chiroptera brought by Von Siebold from Japan, ..."

8. California Mammals by Frank Stephens (1906)
"Order Chiroptera. (Bats.) Fore limbs modified for flight by the elongation of the ... One suborder (Mega- chiroptera) does not occur on this continent. ..."

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