Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of bat characterized by a distinctive, leaf-like structure on its nose: A "leaf-nosed bat" is any bat belonging to certain families, most notably Phyllostomatidae (American leaf-nosed bats), Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats), and Hipposideridae (Old World leaf-nosed bats). The defining feature is a complex, often leaf-shaped, flap of skin surrounding the nostrils, which is used to focus and direct the echolocation calls they emit.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The biologist studied the echolocation patterns of the leaf-nosed bat.
  • A common leaf-nosed bat in the southwestern United States is the California leaf-nosed bat.

Advanced Usage

• "leaf-nosed bat of the family Phyllostomatidae": Specifies the diverse family found in the Americas, many of which are frugivorous (fruit-eating).
  • The Jamaican fruit bat is a well-known leaf-nosed bat of the family Phyllostomatidae.
• "Old World leaf-nosed bat": Refers specifically to members of the family Hipposideridae, found in Africa, Asia, and Australasia.
  • The diadem leaf-nosed bat is a large insectivorous species of Old World leaf-nosed bat.

Variants and Related Words

• Leafnose bat (n): An alternative, often hyphenated, spelling for "leaf-nosed bat."
• Horseshoe bat (n): A common name for bats of the family Rhinolophidae, a type of leaf-nosed bat characterized by a nose-leaf shaped like a horseshoe.
• Phyllostomid (n): A technical term for a bat belonging to the family Phyllostomatidae.

Synonyms

• Nose-leaf bat: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the nasal structure.
• Phyllostomid bat: A more scientific synonym for New World species.

Related Phrases

• Nose leaf (n): The specific anatomical structure that defines these bats.
  • The intricate shape of the nose leaf helps the bat direct its sonar beams.

Noun

1. bat having a leaflike flap at the end of the nose; especially of the families Phyllostomatidae and Rhinolophidae and Hipposideridae