species of mammals of the pacific area 51 

 Mouse-tailed Bats. Family Rhinopomid^ 



A single species of these long-tailed bats (Rhinopoma) oc- 

 curs on Sumatra. Relatives live in Egypt and India. They 

 spend the days often in colonies, in caves, old ruins, or large 

 houses. The head and body are about three inches, the tail 

 about two and one-half inches, and the forearm about two and 

 five-eighths inches long. The interfemoral membrane is very 

 short in contrast to the long mouse-like tail, which extends 

 far beyond the membrane. The muzzle has a fleshy nose-leaf 

 and the rather large ears, which reach almost to the nose-leaf 

 when laid forward, are united across the forehead. The index 

 finger has two bony joints in addition to the metacarpal, a 

 unique condition among insectivorous bats. 



Sheath-tailed Bats. Family EMBALLONURiDiE 



In this family {Emhallonura, TaphozouSy and Saccolaimus) 

 the tail projects through the upperside of the interfemoral 

 membrane and ends free. The wing folds in a peculiar manner : 

 the first joint of the third finger folds back on the upperside 

 of the metacarpal (most insectivorous bats have the first joint 

 of the third finger extended in line with the metacarpal when 

 the wing is folded). The nostrils project in front of the mouth, 

 giving the face a sharp angular profile. No member of this 

 group has a nose-leaf. A pouch is frequently present beneath 

 the throat in Saccolaimus. 



Most sheath-tailed bats are cave or crevice dwellers, often 

 found in old buildings, but some species in the Indies spend the 

 day in hollow trees. They sometinies feed on fruit in addition 

 to the usual insect diet. Bats of this family vary in size from 

 small to medium; head and body are from one and one-half 

 to three and one-half inches, tail from one-half to one and three- 

 eighths inches, and forearm from one and one-fourth to three 

 and one-fourth inches. They are found in the tropical parts 



