Yangochiroptera

Taxobox
name = Yangochiroptera


image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Chiroptera
subordo = "Yangochiroptera"
subordo_authority = Van den Bussche and Hoofer, 2004
subdivision_ranks = Families
subdivision = "see text"

The Yangochiroptera is a proposed suborder of Chiroptera that includes most of the microbat families, except the Rhinopomatidae, Rhinolophidae and the Megadermatidae. These other families, plus the megabats, are seen as part of another suborder, Yinpterochiroptera.

The rationale for the Yangochiroptera taxon is primarily based on molecular genetics data. The Yangochiroptera/ Yinpterochiroptera classification remains a relatively recent proposal, which challenges the traditional view that megabats and microbats form monophyletic groups of bats. Further studies are being conducted, using both molecular and morphological cladistic methodology, to assess the merit of this alternative view of bat evolution. [Cite web
title = Order Chiroptera bats
publisher = animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu
url = http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Chiroptera.html
accessdate =2007-12-30]

The term "Yangochiroptera" was apparently proposed in 1984 by Karl F. Koopman.cite web| url=http://www.bio.georgiasouthern.edu/bio-home/hutcheon/hutchkirsch2006.pdf |title=A moveable face: deconstructing the Microchiroptera and a new classification of extant bats |author=James M. Hutcheon and John A.W. Kirsch |doi=10.3161/1733-5329(2006)8%5B1:AMFDTM%5D2.0.CO;2]

As an alternative to the subordinal names Yinpterochiroptera and Yangochiroptera, some researchers use the terms Pteropodiformes and Vespertilioniformes. [cite journal| quote=Following the recommendations of Hutcheon and Kirsch (2004), we refer to the two suborders of chiropterans as ‘Pteropodiformes’ (comprising the Pteropodidae, Rhinolophidae, Hipposideridae, Megadermatidae, and Rhinopomatidae) and ‘Vespertilioniformes’ (remaining microbat families).| title=A Nuclear DNA Phylogenetic Perspective on the Evolution of Echolocation and Historical Biogeography of Extant Bats (Chiroptera)| doi=10.1093/molbev/msi180| year=2005 |author=Eick et al.] Under this new proposed nomenclature, Vespertilioniformes is the suborder that would replace Yangochiroptera.

References