View source for Nycteris

{{Short description|Genus of bats}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Nycteris thebaica.jpg
| image_caption = [[Egyptian slit-faced bat]] (''Nycteris thebaica'')
| parent_authority = [[Jan van der Hoeven|Hoeven]], 1855
| taxon = Nycteris
| authority = [[Georges Cuvier|G. Cuvier]] & [[Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire|E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire]], 1795
| type_species = ''[[Nycteris hispida|Vespertilio hispidus]]''
| type_species_authority = Schreber 1774
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = *''[[Nycteris arge]]''
*''[[Nycteris aurita]]''
*''[[Nycteris gambiensis]]''
*''[[Nycteris grandis]]''
*''[[Nycteris hispida]]''
*''[[Nycteris intermedia]]''
*''[[Nycteris javanica]]''
*''[[Nycteris macrotis]]''
*''[[Nycteris madagascariensis]]''
*''[[Nycteris major]]''
*''[[Nycteris nana]]''
*''[[Nycteris parisii]]''
*''[[Nycteris thebaica]]''
*''[[Nycteris tragata]]''
*''[[Nycteris vinsoni]]''
*''[[Nycteris woodi]]''
}}

'''''Nycteris''''' comprises a genus of [[bat]]s commonly called '''slit-faced''' or '''hollow-faced bats'''. They are grouped in the family '''Nycteridae'''.<ref>{{MSW3|id=13801049}}</ref> The bats are found in [[East Malaysia]], [[Indonesia]], and many parts of [[Africa]].

==Description==
They are small bats, from {{convert|4|to|8|cm}} in body length, and with grey, brown, or reddish fur. The skull is distinguished by a characteristic interorbital concavity, externally connected to a long slit that runs down the centre of their faces from between the eyes to the nostrils, and probably assists in [[Animal echolocation|echolocation]]. They have large ears, and a complex [[nose-leaf]]. Their tails end in a T-shape, formed from cartilage, a unique feature among mammals.<ref name=EoM>{{cite book|editor= Macdonald, D.|year= 1984|title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|publisher= Facts on File|location= New York|isbn= 0-87196-871-1|page= [https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma00mals_0/page/804 804]|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma00mals_0/page/804}}</ref> Their [[dentition|dental formula]] is: {{dentition2|2.1.1.3|3.1.2.3}}

Nycterids have a reduction of the hand [[phalanges]]: the 2nd digit has only [[metacarpus]], and the 3rd only two phalanges. The [[pectoral girdle]] has parallel features to birds. The [[sternum]] is strongly developed and the [[sternum|mesosternum]] has a keel.<ref name="Vaughan1978">{{cite book |last1=Vaughan |first1=Terry A. |title=Mammalogy |date=1978 |publisher=W.B. Saunders Company |isbn=0-7216-9009-2}}</ref>

==Habitat and biology==
Slit-faced bats inhabit rainforests and savanna, and roost in caves, trees, and buildings, typically in fairly small colonies. Some even roost in animal burrows, such as those of [[hedgehog]]s, [[aardvarks]] or [[porcupine]]s.<ref name="Vaughan1978"/> They eat insects, and some terrestrial invertebrates, such as spiders and small scorpions. At least one species, the [[large slit-faced bat]], even catches vertebrate prey, such as frogs and small birds.<ref name=MBF>{{cite book |last=Fenton |first=M. Brock |year=2001 |title= Bats|publisher= Checkmark Books|location=New York|pages= 125–127|isbn= 0-8160-4358-2}}</ref>

The echolocation calls of slit-faced bats are relatively quiet and short in duration, and they seem to target their prey by hearing the sounds it produces, rather than by sonar.<ref name=MBF/> They give birth once or twice each year.

==Distribution==
The genus ''Nycteris'' is found in the [[Afrotropics]] and the adjacent areas of [[Palaearctic]], [[Madagascar]] and [[Indomalayan realm|Oriental]] realms.<ref name="Vaughan1978"/>

==Classification==
{{further|List of nycterids}}
Most sources report 13 species. However, 16 have been described. Those of indeterminate status are marked with "?" in the list below.

'''Family Nycteridae'''
*Genus '''''Nycteris'''''
**[[Bates's slit-faced bat]], ''N. arge''
**[[Andersen's slit-faced bat]], ''N. aurita''
**[[Gambian slit-faced bat]], ''N. gambiensis''
**[[Large slit-faced bat]], ''N. grandis''
**[[Hairy slit-faced bat]], ''N. hispida''
***''N. h. hispida''
***''N. h. pallida''
**[[Intermediate slit-faced bat]], ''N. intermedia''
**[[Javan slit-faced bat]], ''N. javanica''
**[[Large-eared slit-faced bat]], ''N. macrotis''
***''N. m.aethiopica''
***''N. m. macrotis''
***''N. m.luteola''
**[[Malagasy slit-faced bat]], ''N. madagascariensis''
**[[Ja slit-faced bat]], ''N. major''
***''N. m. avakubia''
***''N. m. major''
**[[Dwarf slit-faced bat]], ''N. nana''
***''N. n.nana''
***''N. n.tristis''
**[[Egyptian slit-faced bat]], ''N. thebaica''
***''N. t. adana''
***''N. t. albiventer''
***''N. t. capensis''
***''N. t. damarensis''
***''N. t. najdiya''
***''N. t. thebaica''
**[[Malayan slit-faced bat]], ''N. tragata''
**[[Parissi's slit-faced bat]], ''N.  parisii'' ?
**[[Vinson's slit-faced bat]], ''N. vinsoni''
**[[Wood's slit-faced bat]], ''N. woodi''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* [http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/mammalia/chiroptera/nycteridae/nycteris/ Data from funet.ni]
* IUCN 2006. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/search-basic 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]. Downloaded on 13 April 2007.

===Further reading===
*Abdullah MT. 2003. Biogeography and variation of ''Cynopterus brachyotis'' in Southeast Asia. PhD thesis. The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.

*Corbet, GB, Hill JE. 1992. The mammals of the Indomalayan region: a systematic review. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

*Hall LS, Gordon G. Grigg, Craig Moritz, Besar Ketol, Isa Sait, Wahab Marni and M.T. Abdullah. 2004. Biogeography of fruit bats in Southeast Asia. Sarawak Museum Journal LX(81):191-284.

*Karim, C., A.A. Tuen and M.T. Abdullah. 2004. Mammals. Sarawak Museum Journal Special Issue No. 6. 80: 221—234.

*Mohd. Azlan J., Ibnu Maryanto, Agus P. Kartono and M.T. Abdullah. 2003 Diversity, Relative
*Abundance and Conservation of Chiropterans in Kayan Mentarang National Park, East
*Kalimantan, Indonesia. Sarawak Museum Journal 79: 251-265.

*Hall LS, Richards GC, Abdullah MT. 2002. The bats of Niah National Park, Sarawak. Sarawak Museum Journal. 78: 255-282.

*Wilson DE, Reeder DM. 2005. Mammal species of the world. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC.
{{Nycteridae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q304313|from2=Q15614857}}

[[Category:Nycteridae| ]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Georges Cuvier]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire]]