Miniopteridae is one of the twenty families of bats in the mammalian order Chiroptera and part of the microbat suborder. A member of this family is called a miniopterid, a bent-winged bat, or long winged bat. They are found in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, primarily in caves, forests, shrubland, and grasslands, though some species can also be found in deserts or rocky areas. They range in size from the Shortridge's long-fingered bat, at 3 cm (1 in) plus a 3 cm (1 in) tail, to the great bent-winged bat, at 8 cm (3 in) plus a 7 cm (3 in) tail. Like all bats, miniopterids are capable of true and sustained flight, and have wing lengths ranging from 3 cm (1 in) for many species to 6 cm (2 in) in the western bent-winged bat. They are all insectivorous and eat a variety of insects and spiders.[1] No miniopterids have population estimates, though two species—the Loyalty bent-winged bat and Southeast Asian long-fingered bat—are categorized as endangered species.
The 31 extant species of Miniopteridae are all included in a single genus, Miniopterus. A few extinct prehistoric miniopterid species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.[2]