Editing Microbat (section)

==Characteristics==
Microbats are {{convert|4|to(-)|16|cm|in|abbr=on}} long.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Whitaker | first1=John O. | last2=Dannelly | first2=H. Kathleen | last3=Prentice | first3=David A. | title=Chitinase in Insectivorous Bats | journal=Journal of Mammalogy | volume=85 | issue=1 | date=2004 | issn=0022-2372 | doi=10.1644/1545-1542(2004)085<0015:CIIB>2.0.CO;2 | doi-access=free | pages=15–18 | url=https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-pdf/85/1/15/7023743/85-1-15.pdf}}</ref> Most microbats feed on insects, but some of the larger species hunt birds, lizards, frogs, smaller bats or even [[fish]]. Only three species of microbat feed on the blood of large mammals or birds ("[[vampire bat]]s"); these bats live in South and Central America.

Although most "Leaf-nose" microbats are fruit and nectar-eating, the name “leaf-nosed” isn't a designation meant to indicate the preferred diet among said variety.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nowak |first=Ronald M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OmkObkVIJ0EC&q=Walker%27s%2520Bats%2520of%2520the%2520World%252C%2520Ronald%2520M.%2520Nowak%2520%281994%29&pg=PA1 |title=Walker's Bats of the World |date=1994 |publisher=JHU Press |isbn=978-0-8018-4986-2 |language=en}}</ref> Three species follow the bloom of columnar cacti in northwest Mexico and the Southwest United States northward in the northern spring and then the blooming agaves southward in the northern fall (autumn).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Comus |first1=Patricia Wentworth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cbQwDwAAQBAJ&dq=A+Natural+History+of+the+Sonoran+Desert,+Edited+by+Steven+Phillips+and+Patricia+Comus,+University+of+California+Press,+Berkeley+p.+464&pg=PA3 |title=A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert |last2=Phillips |first2=Steven John |last3=Dimmitt |first3=Mark Alan |last4=Brewer |first4=Linda M. |date=2015-11-17 |publisher=Univ of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-28747-1 |pages=464 |language=en}}</ref> Other leaf-nosed bats, such as ''[[Vampyrum spectrum]]'' of South America, hunt a variety of prey such as lizards and birds. The horseshoe bats of Europe, as well as California leaf-nosed bats, have a very intricate leaf-nose for echolocation, and feed primarily on insects.

=== Differences from megabats ===
* Microbats use [[Animal echolocation|echolocation]], whereas megabats do not typically. (The Egyptian fruit bat ''[[Rousettus egyptiacus]]'' is an exception, but does not use the larynx echolocation method of microbats, instead giving scientists the theory that it clicks using its nasal passages and back of its tongue.)
* Microbats lack the claw at the second finger of the forelimb. This finger appears thinner and almost bonded by tissue with the third finger for extra support during flight.
* Megabats lack tails, with the exception of a few genera such as ''Nyctimene'', whereas this trait only occurs in certain species of microbats.
* The ears of microbats possess a [[Tragus (ear)|tragus]] (thought to be crucial in echolocation) and are relatively larger than megabat ears, whereas megabat ears are comparatively small and lack a tragus.
* Megabat eyes are quite large, whereas microbat eyes are comparatively smaller.

=== Dentition ===
[[File:Dilambdodont teeth pattern (microbat).png|thumb|alt=The ventral view of microbat teeth|Ventral view of a free-tailed microbat (genus ''Tadarida'') skull displaying a dilambdodont teeth pattern. Specimen from the Pacific Lutheran University Natural History collection.]]
[[File:Microbat canine teeth.png|thumb|alt=The frontal view of microbat teeth|Frontal view of a free-tailed microbat (genus ''Tadarida'') skull displaying the canine teeth. Specimen from the Pacific Lutheran University Natural History collection.]]

The form and function of microbat teeth differ as a result of the various diets these bats can have. Teeth are primarily designed to break down food; therefore, the shape of the teeth correlate to specific feeding behaviors.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Evans |first=Alistair R. |date=2005-04-25 |title=Connecting morphology, function and tooth wear in microchiropterans: FUNCTIONAL DENTAL MORPHOLOGY IN MICROCHIROPTERANS |url=https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1095-8312.2005.00474.x |journal=Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |language=en |volume=85 |issue=1 |pages=81–96 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8312.2005.00474.x}}</ref> In comparison to megabats which feed only on fruit and nectar, microbats illustrate a range of diets and have been classified as [[insectivore]]s, [[carnivore]]s, [[Hematophagy|sanguinivores]], [[frugivore]]s, and [[nectarivore]]s.<ref name=":3">{{cite book |last=Freeman |first=Patricia W. |chapter=Form, Function, and Evolution in Skulls and Teeth of Bats |year=1998 |title=Bat Biology and Conservation |editor1=Thomas H. Kunz |editor2=Paul A. Racey |location=Washington, DC. |publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press |pages= 140–156 |chapter-url=https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=natrespapers |chapter-format=PDF}}</ref> Differences seen between the size and function of the canines and molars among microbats in these groups vary as a result of this.

The diverse diets of microbats reflect having dentition, or cheek teeth, that display a morphology derived from dilambdodont teeth, which are characterized by a W-shaped ectoloph, or stylar shelf.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Wund | first1=Matthew | last2=Myers | first2=Phil | title=Chiroptera (bats) | website=Animal Diversity Web | date=2005-08-16 | url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Chiroptera/ }}</ref> A W-shaped dilambdodont upper molar includes a metacone and paracone, which are located at the bottom of the “W”; while the rest of the “W” is formed by crests that run from the metacone and paracone to the cusps of the stylar self.

Microbats display differences between the size and shape of their canines and molars, in addition to having distinctive variations among their skull features that contribute to their ability to feed effectively. Frugivorous microbats have small stylar shelf areas, short molariform rows, and wide palates and faces. In addition to having wide faces, frugivorous microbats have short skulls, which place the teeth closer to the fulcrum of the jaw lever, allowing an increase in jaw strength.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Freeman |first=Patricia W. |date=March 1988 |title=Frugivorous and animalivorous bats (Microchiroptera): dental and cranial adaptations |url=https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1988.tb00811.x |journal=Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |language=en |volume=33 |issue=3 |pages=249–272 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8312.1988.tb00811.x}}</ref> Frugivorous microbats also possess a different pattern on their molars compared to carnivorous, insectivorous, nectarivorous, and sanguinivorous microbats.<ref name=":3" /> In contrast, insectivorous microbats are characterized by having larger, but fewer teeth, long canines, and shortened third upper molars; while carnivorous microbats have large upper molars. Generally, microbats that are insectivores, carnivores, and frugivores have large teeth and small palates; however, the opposite is true for microbats that are nectarivores. Though differences exist between the palate and teeth sizes of microbats, the proportion of the sizes of these two structures are maintained among microbats of various sizes.<ref name=":3" />