Chiroptera

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Cheiroptera \Chei*rop"te*ra\ (k[-i]*r[o^]p"t[-e]*r[.a]), prop.
     n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. chei`r hand + ptero`n wing.] (Zool.)
     An earlier spelling for {Chiroptera}, an order of Mammalia,
     including the bats, having four toes of each of the anterior
     limbs elongated and connected by a web, so that they can be
     used like wings in flying. See {Chiroptera} and {Bat}.


     [archaic]
     [1913 Webster +PJC]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  chiroptera \chi*rop"te*ra\ (k[-i]*r[o^]p"t[~e]r), n. pl. [NL.,
     fr. Gr. chei`r hand + ptero`n wing.] (Zool.)
     an ancient order of mammalia dating to the early Eocene,
     including the bats. They are nocturnal mouselike mammals
     having four toes of each of the anterior limbs elongated and
     connected by a web, so that they form membranous wings that
     can be used in flying. They also have anatomical adaptations,
     including large ears, for echolocation, by which they
     navigate and in some cases find insects. The order includes
     the suborders Megachiroptera (the fruit bats) and
     Microchiroptera (insectivorous bats). See {Bat}. Previously
     spelled {cheiroptera}. [archaic]
     [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Chiroptera
       n : an old order dating to early Eocene: bats: suborder
           Megachiroptera (fruit bats); suborder Microchiroptera
           (insectivorous bats) [syn: {order Chiroptera}]