Question

Chiropterophily is the process of pollination by:
(a)Water
(b)Bat
(c)Insect
(d)Bird

Answer 1

Hint: Pollination is seen in flowers when gametes or pollen are transferred from anther (male reproductive part) to stigma(female reproductive part). Pollination is assisted by various biotic as well as abiotic agents. These agents usually move from one place to another, therefore, help in ease of pollination.

Complete answer:
Chiropterophily consists of two words; chiropter which is mammalian order having forelimbs modified into wings like bats and Philly means related to pollination or agent.
Every flower is modified accordingly to its pollinating agents as in this case. Flowers that are pollinated by bats have certain modifications like opening at night, white or dull in colour, rich in nectar and usually have a rotten or musty smell. The families which are bat pollinated are Fabaceae, Cactaceae, Malvaceae, Bignoniaceae, and many more. Almost 500 species of plants of 67 families are bat pollinated.
Bat-pollinated flowers have many advantages over others such as:
-They are usually larger from size than other flowers as they are rich in nutrients as well as nectar.
-Bat bodies are very hairy therefore it collects the large number of pollens and ensures pollination.
-Moreover, bats travelled to long-distance which help in pollination over isolated areas also and also ensure enriched diversity.
So, the correct answer is, ’bat’.

Note: -Blooming or opening of flowers at night is known as ‘Nocturnal Anthesis’.
-Bats that aid in pollination have a long tongue with hair-like projections on the tip.
-Pollination is of two types one is self pollination which means either the flower is the same or present on the same plant and cross pollination which means the same gynoecium of the flower does not receive the pollen from the same flower.