This family contains only one species, Craseonycteris thonglongyai. This species was first discovered and described in 1974. With its discovery, C. thonglongyai became the smallest known mammal, weighing only two grams at maturity. It is extremely rare, only having been observed in the Kwai river drainage in Thailand. Craseonycterids are thought to be most closely related to rhinopomatids and emballonurids but are distinct enough from both groups to warrant familial status.
Craseonycterids lack tails and calcars. Their wings are long and broad to aid in hovering. Their nose, which appears to be mounted on a raised platform and has slit-like, vertical nostrils, resembles that of a hog. These bats have large ears and traguses that appear swollen. Their uropatagium is long.
The skulls of craseonycterids lack postorbital processes. Their premaxillae are not fused to the surrounding bones, but they form a complete ring around the narial opening. The palate ends at the level of the last molars. The teeth are dilambdadont and the dental formula is 1/2, 1/1, 1/2, 3/3 = 28.
Craseonycteris thonglongyai roosts deep in limestone caves in loose groups of fewer than 20 individuals. It is known to eat insects and spiders. It is believed to catch insects on the wing and may also glean arthropods from tree-top foliage. These bats are capable of hovering, an activity that may have led to selection for the small size of this species.
Not much is known about the reproduction and ecology of these rare animals, and no fossils have been discovered.
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Suborder Megachiroptera
Family Pteropodidae (Old World fruit-eating bats)
Suborder Microchiroptera
Family Rhinopomatidae (long-tailed or mouse-tailed bats) Family Craseonycteridae (bumblebee bat) Family Emballonuridae (sac-winged or sheath-tailed bats) Family Nycteridae (slit-faced or hollow-faced bats) Family Megadermatidae (false vampire bats) Family Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats or Old-World leaf-nosed bats) Family Noctilionidae (bull-dog or mastiff bats) Family Mormoopidae (naked-backed bats) Family Phyllostomidae (New World leaf-nosed bats) Family Natalidae (funnel-eared or long legged bats) Family Furipteridae (smoky or thumbless bats) Family Thyropteridae (disc-winged bats) Family Myzopodidae (old world sucker-footed bats) Family Vespertilionidae (evening bats) Family Mystacinidae (New Zealand short-tailed bats) Family Molossidae (free-tailed bats)<<<<<<<>>>>>>> ARTIODACTYLA CARNIVORA CETACEA CHIROPTERA DASYUROMORPHIA DERMOPTERA DIDELPHIMORPHI DIPROTODONTIA HYRACOIDEA INSECTIVORA LAGOMORPHA MACROSCELIDEA MICROBIOTHERIA MONOTREMATA NOTORYCTEMORPHIA PAUCITUBERCULATA PERAMELEMORPHIA PERISSODACTYLA PHOLIDOTA PRIMATES PROBOSCIDEA RODENTIA SCANDENTIA SIRENIA TUBULIDENTATA XENARTHRA
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