Smooth noses

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The smoothnoses (Vespertilionidae) are a family of bats. It is the most biodiverse family of this group, with about 350 species in about 45 genera worldwide, about one third of all known bat species.

Dissemination
Smooth noses are found worldwide in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions, lacking only in the Arctic, Antarctic and most remote islands. Around 35 species are common in Europe, of which around 25 are also common in Central Europe. With the exception of several horseshoe noses, the European Bulldogg bat (Tadarida teniotis) and the Nile flying dog (Rousettus aegyptiacus) in Cyprus, all European bats belong to this family. A complete list can be found in the section Systematics.

Description
Smooth noses have their name because, unlike other bats, they have no nasal attachments, only in the subfamily of Australian long-eared bats is a rudimentary nostril present. The eyes are small, the ears in contrast very large, they can grow up to 40 millimeters in the long-eared bats (Plecotus) and can be closed by an ear lid (Tragus). The coat coloration is usually brown, gray or black, but there are also reddish, yellow and several patterned species. A tail is generally present, it is embedded in the tail flying skin (uropatagium). Smooth noses achieve a head body length of 32 to 105 millimetres, a tail length of 25 to 75 millimetres and a weight of 4 to 50 grams.

lifestyle
These bats are found in a variety of habitats, from dry deserts to wet rainforests. As sleeping places they primarily serve caves, but they are also found in mines, buildings, tree caves or in large leaves. Some species live solitary, others are found in large groups of hundreds of thousands of animals. Species in cooler regions migrate to warmer areas during the cold season or hibernate, for which they often visit their own winter quarters. Like most bats, they are nocturnal.

Food
Most smooth noses feed on insects. Most catch their prey in flight with the help of their tail flying skin, but some also collect insects crawling. Some species are known to eat fish, for this purpose they fish their prey with the help of their hind legs from lakes or rivers.

Reproduction
Most smooth-nosed females have two teats. In many species, the females form “week-rooms” into which they retreat together at birth and the subsequent time of the rearing of young. The males usually do not participate in the rearing. For species in cooler areas, mating takes place in autumn or winter, the sperm is kept in the female reproductive tract and is not fertilized until spring. In warmer areas, mating can occur throughout the year