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Old World Sucker-Footed Bat: Myzopodidae

Physical Characteristics



Also known as the Madagascar sucker-footed bat, the sucker-footed bat family has only one known species. Bats in this family are small to medium in size, having a head and body length combined of 2.3 inches (5.7 centimeters), and a tail length of approximately 1.9 inches (4.8 centimeters). The tail extends beyond the tail membrane (layer of thin skin). The bat weighs about 0.3 ounces (8 grams).



Old World sucker-footed bat is named after the suction-like pads or disks on their wrists and ankles. These pads are horseshoe shaped. They are attached directly to the feet and ankles, without a stalk as in the disk-winged bats.

Old World sucker-footed bats have large ears, which are about 1.2 to 1.4 inches (3 to 3.5 centimeters) long. The ears do not have a tragus (TRAY-gus), which is a small flap of flesh in front of the opening of the ear. The upper lip extends beyond the lower lip. Their thumbs are small and have a vestigial (ves-TIJ-ee-al; not fully developed) claw.

These bats are occasionally called golden bats because of their fur color. Their moderately thick fur is brown to golden brown in color with some reddish shades.

Additional topics

Animal Life ResourceMammalsOld World Sucker-Footed Bat: Myzopodidae - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, OLD WORLD SUCKER-FOOTED BATS AND PEOPLE, CONSERVATION STATUS