|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Wish I could remember who suggested a "nocturne of bats" on AWAD. In trying to find some more intesting photographs of bats, I came across this list with one family name having the word vesper in it, which is nice: Information on Amazonian Bats (arranged by family):
Rhynchonycteris Naso
- small - live in rocky crevices, caves, trees, hollow logs - have more exposed roosts than most other bat families - some species live in year-round stable harems, with 2-8 females per male
Noctilionidae
- feed on insects, some species on fish and frogs - roost near water, in hollow trees, and in deep cracks in rocks - the Noctilio leporinus species can swim
Mormoopidae
- small - medium size - insectivorous - sometimes roost in large colonies, sometimes exclusively in caves - Pteronotus parnellii species eats only moths, butterflies, and beetles
Natalidae
- small - often roost in caves or mines - have social groups that range in size from very large to less than ten - eat exclusively small insects
Furipteridae
- very small - insectivorous (mainly butterflies and moths) - live in colonies of about 100 to 150 individuals, sometimes more than 300 - live in mainly in caves, occasionally in moist areas or logs
Thyropteriae
- small - have suction cups on wrists and ankles - roost head up, inside tubes formed as young banana/heliconia leaves unfurl - Thyroptera discifera species is insectivorous - Thyroptera tricolor species - predators don't usually notice this species - consumes 1 gram of insects a night
Vespertilionidae
- largest family of bats (in number) with 318 species - huge variation in characteristics - mainly roost in caves
Molossidae
- small to moderately large - insectivorous, catch prey on wing
Retrieved from:
http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2006/teams/r4/batsindicator.html
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Despite the fact that there are two species of bat (this from memory) in New Zealand, and that bats actually represent the only native land mammals in New Zealand, I've never seen a NZ bat. The first bats I ever saw were in a zoo, and they were Australian bats!
I always thought that they were awkward flyers, but David Attenborough came to their rescue and demonstrated through very clever camera work just how deft and accurate they are in the air. Oh well!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
I'm glad you brought this one back up, Cap. I had been so interested in the Vesper* family that I hadn't read with care about a more interesting family, the members of whom rest in unfurling banana leaves:
Thyropteriae
- small - have suction cups on wrists and ankles - roost head up, inside tubes formed as young banana/heliconia leaves unfurl
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
How the hey do they do that on motor scooters?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
How the hey do they do that on motor scooters?
they Puch-er up...
formerly known as etaoin...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Capfka doesn't know the differerence between a Italina wasp and a Sicilian Vesper.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
difference between a wasp and a vesper
Common problem among the non-rhotic. He got badly stung by a woman of the evening once, long, long time ago.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Yes, I always thought that singing vespas was a bit of a pain ... you burn your lips on the exhaust pipe ...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Don't you think once in while ron-o would just make an appearance and explain all these esoteric conversations to the World at Large? I, for one, wouldn't mind old ronnie-oh-ee-oh doing that once in a while.
[twiddling-my-thumbs-e]
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
it should really be quite casual to the obvious observer that ofttimes when Capfka wanders into a thread it goes all pear-shaped. hth. -ron o.
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,350
Members9,182
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
0 members (),
773
guests, and
1
robot. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|