翼手目 Chiroptera

Chiroptera,源于希腊文 χείρ（kheír,"手"）和希腊文 πτερόν（pterón,"翼"）,意为 "手状的翅膀",指的是这些动物的翅膀由四根拉长的 "手指 "组成,上面覆盖着一层皮膜.

Chiroptera, from Greek χείρ (kheír, “hand”) and Greek πτερόν (pterón, “wing”), means “hand-like wings”, in reference to the fact that these animals wings are formed from four elongated “fingers” covered by a cutaneous membrane.

種的俗名 Common names of members

蝙蝠

Bats.

分佈 Distribution

除极地地区和一些孤立的岛屿外,所有大陆.

All continents, except polar regions and some isolated islands.

體型 Size

牠们的大小不一.大多数体型较小（重量不足 25 克）,但也有一些翼展可达 180 公分.

They vary in size. Most are small (less than 25 g in weight), but others may have 180 cm of wingspan.

形態描述 Morphology

牠们有的鼻子较长,有的鼻子较短,但都长着长长的耳朵、大量的毛发和长长的翅膀,翅膀由四根伸长的手指组成,上面覆盖着一层皮膜.不过,牠们的腿很短,脚上有锋利的爪子,用于倒挂休息.

Some have longer snouts, others have reduced snouts, but all of them have long ears, a lot of fur and long wings formed from four elongated fingers covered by a cutaneous membrane. Though, their legs are short with sharp claws on their feet for hanging upside down while resting.

生態及棲息地 Habitat & Ecology

不同的物种在不同的季节会选择不同的栖息地,从海边到山区、沙漠、森林、热带草原、草地,但牠们都需要合适的栖息地.蝙蝠的栖息地可以在山凹、缝隙、树叶甚至人造建筑中找到,其中包括蝙蝠用树叶搭建的 "帐篷".

Different species select different habitats during different seasons, ranging from seaside to mountains and deserts, forests, savannas, grasslands, but they require suitable roosts. Bat roosts can be found in hollows, crevices, foliage, and even human-made structures, and include "tents" the bats construct with leaves.

食性 Diet

不同种类的蝙蝠有不同的食物,包括昆虫、花蜜、花粉、水果甚至脊椎动物.牠们可能食虫、食蜜、食俭、杂食或食血.

Different bat species have different diets, including insects, nectar, pollen, fruit and even vertebrates. They may be insectivorous, nectarivores, frugivores, omnivorous or hematophagous.

繁殖 Reproduction

大多数蝙蝠物种都是一雄多雌,雄性与多个雌性交配,但也有多雄多雌,即多个雄性与多个雌性交配.雌性负责大部分的育儿工作.雄性负责喂养和保护幼崽.刚出生的蝙蝠不会飞,所以牠们会呆在窝里或爬到母亲身上.通常 2-4 周后牠们就能飞了.

Most bat species are polygynous, where males mate with multiple females, but there are polygynandry systems too, where multiple males mate with multiple females. Females are responsible for most of the parenting care. Males responsible for feeding and protecting young. Newborn bats cannot fly so they stay in the dwell or climb on their mothers. Usually they can fly after 2-4 weeks.