Emballonuridae – Sheath-tailed bats
They are said to have the most handsome faces of all bats and are widely distributed across the world
Many of these bats are referred to as ‘sac-winged’ because they have glands on their wings that produce pheromones (a chemical substance used to trigger a social response within a species) to attract mates and mark territories. Their other name is sheathed-tail because their membranous wings partially extend between their hind legs to cover their tails. This is an adaptation for greater flexibility of movement during flight.
They produce ultrasonic sounds (above the range of human hearing), which they use for echolocation and social communication with other bats. Their fur is usually brown or grey, apart from the ghost bats (you guessed it!), which are white.
Genera in this family
These SE Asia and Oceania natives are compact-bodied with triangle heads facing up
