User:Noseleaf

Noseleaves

Many bats have noseleaves or other kinds of ornaments on their faces. Noseleaves characterize almost all members of the families Phyllostomidae, Rhinolophidae and Megadermatidae. The exact shape and position of the noseleaf can be an important character for identifying and classifying a bat. The function of noseleaves is believed to be in focusing echolocation calls as they are emitted (these bats call through their noses). Other facial structures, such as the swellings often seen on the snout of vespertilionids or the bumps and lappets of the face of Centurio (Phyllostomidae), may be glandular, but this is usually not known for certain.

Noseleaf 18:31, 11 April 2011 (UTC)