- Body: Compact, with soft, flexible fur. Bats are the only mammals that are capable of sustained flight. Their bodies are designed for efficient aerodynamics, with long, narrow wings attached to their forelimbs.
- Wings: Thin, delicate membranes of skin supported by elongated finger bones. The wing membrane extends between the forelimbs and the body, and also between the hindlimbs and the tail.
- Forelimbs: Elongated, with long fingers that support the wing membrane. The thumb is short and clawed, used for climbing and perching.
- Hindlimbs: Shorter than the forelimbs, with five clawed toes. The feet are adapted for roosting and hanging upside down.
- Tail: Varies in length and shape, but is usually long and flexible. Some bats have a tail membrane, or uropatagium, which helps to stabilize the body during flight.
- Head: Rounded, with large, forward-facing eyes. Bats also have excellent hearing, with large, funnel-shaped ears that help to capture sounds.
- Ears: Large and funnel-shaped, often with a tragus (a small flap of skin) near the opening of the ear. The ears are covered with fine hairs, which help to funnel sounds into the ear.
- Teeth: Sharp, pointed teeth that are adapted for catching and eating insects. Bats also have a specialized dental adaptation called a dental comb, which is used to groom fur.
- Fur: Soft, dense, and typically brown or black in color. Some bat species have distinctive fur markings, such as stripes or spots.
- Size: Bats vary greatly in size, from tiny species like the bumblebee bat (which weighs only a few grams) to large species like the flying fox (which can weigh over 1 kilogram).