There are only two species in the genus Cheiromeles. They are commonly referred to as Naked bats, Naked Bulldog bats or Hairless bats and are almost completely devoid of hair except for very fine ones on the tail and head and around the neck as a collar of course black bristles especially around the unusual throat sack.

The skin is remarkably thickened and is black in C. torquatus and dark brown in C. parvidens. The wings are joined together along the middle of the back near the midline and their skin is strong and elastic. As well as the unusual throat sack, both of these species also possess a pocket on each side of the body for folding the ends of the wings into. When folded, they are quite nimble when walking.

Both species occour in South East Asia, C. torquatus from Malaysia down through Borneo and east as far as the Philippines. C. parvidens is somewhat more restricted being only found in Sulawesi and the Philippines.

Typical molossids with very strong fast flight on narrow wings catching flying Termites, Grasshoppers and Moths caught over open Paddy Fields and forest canopy.

Two young or pups are born to the mother invariably in tree holes where both species roost.