cheiroptera

2 definitions found

cheiroptera - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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]

  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]