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Glite Dictionary
Megachiroptera

Megachiroptera

9.9
Large bats with big eyes that eat fruit and nectar
  • noun
  • /ˌmɛɡəˈkaɪrəptərə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Megachiroptera
  • The rainforest is home to several species of Megachiroptera that feed on fruit and nectar.

Examples

  • Unlike their smaller relatives, Megachiroptera generally do not use echolocation to navigate.

  • The Megachiroptera are known for their impressive wingspan.

  • Scientists studied the migratory patterns of Megachiroptera in Southeast Asia.

  • Look at that Megachiroptera!

  • The rainforest is home to several species of Megachiroptera that feed on fruit and nectar.

  • Scientists studied the migratory patterns of Megachiroptera in Southeast Asia.

  • Unlike their smaller relatives, Megachiroptera generally do not use echolocation to navigate.

Synonyms

megabat
vsMegachiroptera
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A large bat that eats fruit and lives in warm areas

is the taxonomic group covering many such species rather than one bat
suborder Megachiroptera
vsMegachiroptera
  • Archaic
9.3

A group of large fruit bats like flying foxes that live in tropical regions

is the same concept but presented without the extra taxonomic word

Compounds

suborder Megachiroptera
  • Archaic
9.3

A group of large fruit bats like flying foxes that live in tropical regions

Surface Forms

Megachiroptera singular
Megachiropteras plural

Morphology

Megachiroptera = chiroptera (semi-transparent) = mega + chiroptera

The meaning is compositionally 'large bats', but it relies on the technical taxonomic term 'chiroptera', which many learners will not know.

Etymology

Megachiroptera comes from Greek parts mega 'large', cheir 'hand', and pteron 'wing', so it means 'large hand-wing'. That's why the name fits the big fruit bats known as flying foxes, whose wings are like large hands.