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Microchiroptera:
The microbats constitute the suborder Microchiroptera within the order Chiroptera (bats). Other English names are "insectivorous bats", "echolocating bats", "small bats" or "true bats". All these names are somewhat inaccurate, because not all microbats feed on insects, and some of them are larger than small megabats. The distinctions between microbats and megabats are:
Microbats use echolocation, whereas megabats do not.
Microbats lack the claw at the second toe of the forelimb.
The ears of microbats don't form a closed ring, but the edges are separated from each other at the base of the ear.
Microbats lack the underfur; they have only guard hairs or are naked.
Most microbats feed on insects. Some of the larger species hunt birds, lizards, frogs or even fish. Microbats that feed on the blood of large mammals (vampire bats) exist in South America. Microbats are 4 to 16 cm long.
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