leaf-nosed bat
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- bat having a leaflike flap at the end of the nose; especially of the families Phyllostomatidae and Rhinolophidae and Hipposideridae