This genus is unique among bats in several respects: the essentially naked appearance, the great development of the throat sacs, and the wing pouches. A pouch is present in both sexes along the sides of the body, formed by an extension of a fold of skin to the upper arm bone and to the upper leg bone. This pouch opens toward the rear and is 25-50 mm deep. The folded wings are pushed into these pouches by the hind feet; the first toe of each hind foot is opposable to the other toes and is supplied with a flattened nail instead of a claw. When the membrane portions of the wings are folded within the pouch, the bat can move about relatively freely on all four limbs. "The supposition is that, living in large, hollow trees, the bulldog bat must do a fair amount of climbing to find a suitable place to rest," and "perhaps the folding of the wings into pouches is to give elbow-room" (Burton 1955).

Naked bats roost in hollow trees, rock crevices, and holes in the earth. They are not rare, as nearly a thousand have been noted in a hollow tree and a colony of about 20,000 was observed in a cave in Borneo (Freeman 1981). Cheiromeles has been seen at dusk flying high in the air with a rapid flight. Medway (1978) reported that the diet consists of termites and other insects that are hunted in the open air, either above the forest canopy or over clearings or paddy fields. A captive individual was maintained for several weeks on a diet of grasshoppers and moths.

There are usually two offspring (Freeman 1981). The mammae are located near the opening of the pouch, and it was formerly thought that the young were carried and nursed in this pocket. The young are probably left in the roost by the parents when they leave on their evening flights.
Threats: Low Risk
Interesting Information: Cheiromeles is known as the Naked or Hairless bats.
Conservation Efforts/Measures:
Photograph Information: Courtesy of the JHU. Both C. parvidens and C. torquatus look like this except for the variation in fur color