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Bat flies: Obligate ectoparasites of bats

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Micromammals and Macroparasites

Concluding remarks

Bat flies are highly specialized for a nearly permanent ectoparasitic relationship with their hosts, the Chiroptera. Although known life-histories are rather similar across all taxa, bat flies exhibit a variety of morphological adaptations, most suiting them for the two physical substrates offered to them by their bat hosts, the fur and the flight membranes. These morphological adaptations and the ecological diversity of their hosts make bat flies an excellent group in which to study the parasitic relationship, including morphological accommodations, cospeciation, and coevolution.

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Authors
  1. Carl W. Dick
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  2. Bruce D. Patterson
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Biology and Management of Populations, Campus International de Baillarguet, CS 30016 34988, Montferrier-sur-Lez cedex, France

    Serge Morand Ph. D.

  2. Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede-Boqer Campus, 84990, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel

    Boris R. Krasnov Ph. D.

  3. Ramon Science Center, P.O. Box 194, 80600, Mizpe Ramon, Israel

    Boris R. Krasnov Ph. D.

  4. Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand

    Robert Poulin Ph. D. (Professor) (Professor)

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Dick, C.W., Patterson, B.D. (2006). Bat flies: Obligate ectoparasites of bats. In: Morand, S., Krasnov, B.R., Poulin, R. (eds) Micromammals and Macroparasites. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-36025-4_11

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