Noctilionidae

The Noctilionidae family, known as bulldog bats or fishing bats, includes two species: greater and lesser bulldog bats, along with a fossil species, Noctilio lacrimaelunaris. These bats inhabit areas near water in the Neotropics, from Mexico to Argentina and the Caribbean, roosting in hollow trees, caves, and manmade structures.

Bulldog bats are relatively large, with body lengths of 7 to 14 cm and weights of 20-75 g. They have orange to brown fur, long legs, large feet, and distinctive cheek pouches for food storage, giving them a bulldog-like appearance.

The lesser bulldog bats are insectivorous, while the greater bulldog bats are piscivorous, using echolocation to locate fish by detecting surface ripples. The greater bulldog bat can trawl the water with its curved talons, capturing 20-30 small fish in a single night.