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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Field Notes • Mammals

Chauve-souris

La chauve-souris est un mammifère volant de l’ordre des chiroptères, reconnaissable à ses ailes membraneuses.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

A chauve-souris is a bat: a nocturnal mammal with membranous wings. The term is French for bat, literally meaning 'bald mouse'.

What it is

A chauve-souris is a small, nocturnal mammal of the order Chiroptera. It has membranous wings and is not a bird. The French phrase literally means 'bald mouse' but refers to the bat.

Key details

Bats are found on all continents except Antarctica. Most are insectivorous, though some eat fruit or nectar. They are placentals and distinct from rodents.

Human safety

Bats are generally not dangerous to humans. However, they should not be handled because bites can pose a rabies risk. In Canada, public health advises reporting contact with bats.

In short

  • Mammal with membranous wings, not a bird
  • Order Chiroptera
  • Nocturnal and mostly insectivorous
  • French for bat, literally 'bald mouse'
Canadian angle

Bats are native to Canada, where they are part of local ecosystems and insect control; Canadian readers may also encounter public-health advice to avoid handling bats and to report contact with bats to health authorities.

Quick questions

What is a chauve-souris?
A chauve-souris is a bat: a nocturnal mammal with membranous wings.
Chauve-souris translation
The English translation is bat.
Are chauve-souris bats dangerous?
Usually no. They are generally harmless, but they should not be handled because bites can pose a rabies risk.

Sources

  1. Larousse — https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/chauve-souris/15021
    Supports: French definition of chauve-souris as a flying mammal and chiroptère.
  2. CNRTL — https://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/chauve-souris
    Supports: French lexical definition of chauve-souris as a small mammal of the order of chiropterans.
  3. Dictionnaire de l’Académie française — https://www.dictionnaire.academie-francaise.fr/article/A6C1243
    Supports: Definition and nocturnal behavior of chauve-souris.
  4. La Langue Française — https://www.lalanguefrancaise.com/dictionnaire/definition/chauve-souris
    Supports: English translation 'bat' and definition of the animal.
  5. Plecotus / Natagora — https://plecotus.natagora.be/decouvrez-les-chauves-souris/legendes-et-superstitions-autour-des-chauves-souris
    Supports: Information that European bats are insectivorous and that human contamination by rabies is uncommon but possible through bites.
  6. GEO — https://www.geo.fr/animaux/les-5-choses-a-savoir-sur-la-chauve-souris-198488
    Supports: General overview, diet diversity, and note that some species can transmit diseases such as rabies.