''Cheiromeles'' is a genus of

bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most bi ...

s in the family Molossidae, the free-tailed bats. The genus was erected and described by

Thomas Horsfield Thomas Horsfield (May 12, 1773 – July 24, 1859) was an American physician and natural history, naturalist who worked extensively in Indonesia, describing numerous species of plants and animals from the region. He was later a curator of the Eas ...

, who developed the name from the Greek word ''cheir'' ("hand"), a reference to the hand-like hindfoot, which has a toe that flexes like an opposable thumb.Leong, T. M., et al. (2009)
The naked bulldog bat, ''Cheiromeles torquatus'' in Singapore—past and present records, with highlights on its unique morphology (Microchiroptera: Molossidae).
''Nature in Singapore'' 2, 215-30. These bats have mostly hairless bodies and fold their wings into pouches of skin along their bodies when at rest. These are among the largest insectivorous bats, weighing up to 135 grams.Norberg, U. M. L. & Norberg, R. Å. (2012)
Scaling of wingbeat frequency with body mass in bats and limits to maximum bat size.
''The Journal of Experimental Biology'' 215(5), 711-22. There are two species in this genus: * Lesser naked bat ''Cheiromeles parvidens'' *

Hairless bat The hairless bat (''Cheiromeles torquatus''), also called the naked bulldog batLeong, T. M., et al. (2009)The naked bulldog bat, ''Cheiromeles torquatus'' in Singapore—past and present records, with highlights on its unique morphology (Microchi ...

''Cheiromeles torquatus''

References

Mammals of Southeast Asia Bat genera Taxa named by Thomas Horsfield {{Molossidae-stub