Molossidae is one of the twenty families of bats in the mammalian order Chiroptera and part of the microbat suborder. Members of this family are called a molossid, or a free-tailed bat. They are named for their tail, which extends past the uropatagium, a membrane that connects the legs of bats. [1] They are found in all continents besides Antarctica, primarily in caves, forests, savannas, and shrublands, though some species can also be found in deserts, rocky areas, or coastal areas. They range in size from the blunt-eared bat, at 3 cm (1 in) plus a 2 cm (1 in) tail, to the hairless bat, at 18 cm (7 in) plus a 8 cm (3 in) tail. Like all bats, molossids are capable of true and sustained flight, and have wing lengths ranging from 2 cm (1 in) for many species to 9 cm (4 in) in the hairless bat, big bonneted bat, and western mastiff bat. They are all insectivorous and eat a variety of insects and spiders. [1] Almost no molossids have population estimates, though the Mexican free-tailed bat is estimated to have a population of nearly 100 million, as one of the most numerous mammals in the world, [2] while seven species—the blunt-eared bat, equatorial dog-faced bat, Fijian mastiff bat, La Touche's free-tailed bat, Natal free-tailed bat, São Tomé free-tailed bat, and Solomons mastiff bat—are categorized as endangered species, with populations as low as 200.
The 120 extant species of Molossidae are divided between two subfamilies, Molossinae and Tomopeatinae. Molossinae contains 119 species grouped into 18 genera, while Tomopeatinae contains only a single species. A few extinct prehistoric molossid species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed. [3]
Conservation status | |
---|---|
EX | Extinct (0 species) |
EW | Extinct in the wild (0 species) |
CR | Critically Endangered (0 species) |
EN | Endangered (7 species) |
VU | Vulnerable (6 species) |
NT | Near threatened (5 species) |
LC | Least concern (77 species) |
Other categories | |
DD | Data deficient (24 species) |
NE | Not evaluated (1 species) |
Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the molossid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.
The family Molossidae consists of two subfamilies: Molossinae, containing 119 species divided into 18 genera, and Tomopeatinae, which consists of a single species.
Family Molossidae
The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists. [5]
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
White-striped free-tailed bat | A. australis Gray, 1838 | Australia | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in), plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and desert [7] | LC
|
New Guinea free-tailed bat | A. kuboriensis (McKean & Calaby, 1968) | New Guinea | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 4–5 cm (2 in) tail 5–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest and grassland [8] | LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hairless bat | C. torquatus Horsfield, 1824 | Southeastern Asia | Size: 12–18 cm (5–7 in), plus 6–8 cm (2–3 in) tail 6–9 cm (2–4 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Forest and caves [10] | LC
|
Lesser naked bat | C. parvidens Miller & Hollister, 1921 | Indonesia and the Philippines | Size: 10–12 cm (4–5 in), plus 5–7 cm (2–3 in) tail 6–8 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Caves and forest [11] | LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cinnamon dog-faced bat | C. abrasus Temminck, 1827 | South America | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest [13] | DD
|
Greenhall's dog-faced bat | C. greenhalli Goodwin, 1958 | Northern South America | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest [14] | LC
|
Mexican dog-faced bat | C. mexicanus Jones & Genoways, 1967 | Scattered Mexico and Central America | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest [15] | LC
|
Miller's dog-faced bat | C. milleri (Osgood, 1914) | Northwestern and central South America | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest [16] | LC
|
Para dog-faced bat | C. paranus Peters, 1866 | Northern and central South America | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 2–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest [17] | DD
|
Southern dog-faced bat | C. planirostris Peters, 1866 | South America | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 2–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest [18] | LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Big bonneted bat | E. dabbenei Thomas, 1914 | South America | Size: 7–12 cm (3–5 in), plus 5–7 cm (2–3 in) tail 7–9 cm (3–4 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest and savanna [20] | LC
|
Black bonneted bat | E. auripendulus Shaw, 1800 Two subspecies
| South America, Central America, and southern Mexico | Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in), plus 4–7 cm (2–3 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest and savanna [21] | LC
|
Colombian bonneted bat | E. trumbulli (Thomas, 1901) | North-central South America | Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in), plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail 6–8 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest and rocky areas [22] | LC
|
Delta bonneted bat | E. delticus Thomas, 1923 | Northern South America | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest [23] | DD
|
Dwarf bonneted bat | E. bonariensis Peters, 1867 | South America, Central America, and southern Mexico | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest [24] | LC
|
Fierce bonneted bat | E. ferox Gundlach, 1861 | Central America, Cuba, and southern Mexico | Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in), plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest [25] | LC
|
Florida bonneted bat | E. floridanus (Allen, 1932) | Southern Florida | Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in), plus 4–7 cm (2–3 in) tail 6–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest [26] | VU
|
Guianan bonneted bat | E. maurus Thomas, 1901 | Scattered northern South America | Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in), plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Savanna and forest [27] | DD
|
Northern dwarf bonneted bat | E. nanus Miller, 1900 | Northern South America, Central America, and southern Mexico | Size: 4–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest [28] | LC
|
Patagonian bonneted bat | E. patagonicus Thomas, 1924 | South-central South America | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest [29] | LC
|
Sanborn's bonneted bat | E. hansae Sanborn, 1932 | South America, Central America, and southern Mexico | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and coastal marine [30] | LC
|
Underwood's bonneted bat | E. underwoodi Goodwin, 1940 | Southern North America and Central America | Size: 8–12 cm (3–5 in), plus 4–7 cm (2–3 in) tail 6–8 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest and desert [31] | LC
|
Wagner's bonneted bat | E. glaucinus Wagner, 1843 Two subspecies
| South America, Central America, and southern Mexico | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in), plus 4–7 cm (2–3 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest [32] | LC
|
Western mastiff bat | E. perotis Schinz, 1821 | South America and southwestern North America | Size: 10–12 cm (4–5 in), plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail 7–9 cm (3–4 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest and caves [33] | LC
|
Wilson's bonneted bat | E. wilsoni Baker, McDonough, Swier, Larsen, Carrera, & Ammerman, 2009 | Ecuador and Peru | Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in), plus 4–5 cm (2 in) tail 5–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest [34] | DD
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
East-coast free-tailed bat | M. norfolkensis J. E. Gray, 1839 | Eastern Australia | Size: 5–6 cm (2 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest and shrubland [35] | NT
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dwarf dog-faced bat | M. temminckii Tullberg, 1893 | South America | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 1–3 cm (0–1 in) tail 2–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest [36] | LC
|
Equatorial dog-faced bat | M. aequatorianus A. Cabrera, 1917 | Ecuador | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest [37] | EN
|
Mato Grosso dog-faced bat | M. mattogrossensis Vieira, 1942 | Northern South America | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail 2–3 cm (1 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest and rocky areas [38] | LC
|
Rufous dog-faced bat | M. neglectus Williams & Genoways, 1980 | South America | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Unknown [39] | DD
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alvarez's mastiff bat | M. alvarezi González-Ruiz, Ramírez-Pulido, & Arroyo-Cabrales, 2011 | Yucatán Peninsula | Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in), plus 4–5 cm (2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Forest [40] | DD
|
Aztec mastiff bat | M. aztecus Saussure, 1860 | Scattered Mexico and Central America | Size: 5–9 cm (2–4 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Forest [41] | LC
|
Black mastiff bat | M. rufus Geoffroy, 1805 | Mexico, Central America, and South America | Size: Unknown [9] Habitat: Forest and shrubland [42] | LC
|
Bonda mastiff bat | M. bondae Allen, 1904 | Central America and northern South America | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland [43] | LC
|
Coiban mastiff bat | M. coibensis Allen, 1904 | Northern South America and Central America | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Forest [44] | LC
|
Miller's mastiff bat | M. pretiosus Miller, 1902 | Southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America | Size: 7–8 cm (3 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest and caves [45] | LC
|
Sinaloan mastiff bat | M. sinaloae Allen, 1906 Two subspecies
| Southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest and caves [46] | LC
|
Thomas's mastiff bat | M. currentium Thomas, 1900 | South-central South America | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and grassland [47] | LC
|
Velvety free-tailed bat | M. molossus (Pallas, 1766) Six subspecies
| Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, and South America | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Forest [48] | LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Angolan free-tailed bat | M. condylurus Smith, 1833 | Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–6 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Savanna [50] | LC
|
Ansorge's free-tailed bat | M. ansorgei (Thomas, 1913) | Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and rocky areas [51] | LC
|
Black and red free-tailed bat | M. jobimena Goodman & Cardiff, 2004 | Western Madagascar | Size: 7–8 cm (3 in), plus 3–6 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Caves and forest [52] | LC
|
Chapin's free-tailed bat | M. chapini Allen, 1917 | Central and western Africa | Size: 5–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Savanna [53] | LC
|
Duke of Abruzzi's free-tailed bat | M. aloysiisabaudiae (Festa, 1907) | Central and western Africa | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Savanna and forest [54] | LC
|
Dwarf free-tailed bat | M. nanulus Allen, 1917 | Central and western Africa | Size: 5–6 cm (2 in), plus 1–3 cm (0–1 in) tail 2–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest [55] | LC
|
Fijian mastiff bat | M. bregullae (Felten, 1964) | Fiji and Vanuatu | Size: 6–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 4–5 cm (2 in) tail 5–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest and caves [56] | EN
|
Gallagher's free-tailed bat | M. gallagheri (Harrison, 1975) | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Size: About 5 cm (2 in), plus about 3 cm (1 in) tail About 4 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest [57] | DD
|
Gland-tailed free-tailed bat | M. bemmeleni (Jentink, 1879) Two subspecies
| Central and western Africa | Size: 6–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest and savanna [58] | LC
|
Grandidier's free-tailed bat | M. leucogaster (Grandidier, 1869) | Madagascar | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest and savanna [59] | LC
|
Lappet-eared free-tailed bat | M. major (Trouessart, 1897) | Eastern and western Africa | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Savanna and rocky areas [60] | LC
|
Little free-tailed bat | M. pumilus (Cretzschmar, 1826) | Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: 4–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland [61] | LC
|
Madagascar free-tailed bat | M. atsinanana Goodman, Buccas, Naidoo, Ratrimomanarivo, Taylor, & Lamb, 2010 | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 6–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest [62] | LC
|
Malagasy white-bellied free-tailed bat | M. leucostigma Allen, 1918 | Madagascar | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest and caves [63] | LC
|
Malayan free-tailed bat | M. mops (Blainville, 1840) | Indonesia and Malaysia | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest [64] | NT
|
Medje free-tailed bat | M. congicus Allen, 1917 | Central Africa | Size: 9–10 cm (4 in), plus 3–6 cm (1–2 in) tail 5–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest [65] | LC
|
Midas free-tailed bat | M. midas (Sundevall, 1843) | Scattered Africa | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in), plus 3–6 cm (1–2 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and desert [66] | LC
|
Mongalla free-tailed bat | M. demonstrator Thomas, 1903 | Western and central Africa | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Savanna [67] | LC
|
Niangara free-tailed bat | M. niangarae Allen, 1917 | Central Africa | Size: About 9 cm (4 in), plus about 3 cm (1 in) tail About 5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Unknown [68] | DD
|
Nigerian free-tailed bat | M. nigeriae Thomas, 1913 Two subspecies
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–6 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Savanna and forest [69] | LC
|
Northern freetail bat | M. jobensis (Miller, 1902) Two subspecies
| Northern Australia and southeastern Asia | Size: 5–9 cm (2–4 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and caves [70] | LC
|
Northern free-tailed bat | M. johorensis (Dobson, 1873) | Indonesia and Malaysia | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest [71] | VU
|
Peterson's free-tailed bat | M. petersoni El-Rayah, 1981 | Western Africa | Size: About 7 cm (3 in), plus about 3 cm (1 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest [72] | NT
|
Railer bat | M. thersites (Thomas, 1903) | Western and central Africa | Size: 6–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest [73] | LC
|
Russet free-tailed bat | M. russatus Allen, 1917 | Western and central Africa | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest and savanna [74] | DD
|
São Tomé free-tailed bat | M. tomensis (Juste & Ibáñez, 1993) | São Tomé and Príncipe | Size: 5–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest and savanna [75] | EN
|
Seychelles free-tailed bat | M. pusillus Miller, 1902 | Comoro Islands and Seychelles | Size: 5–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest [76] | VU
|
Shortridge's free-tailed bat | M. shortridgei Thomas, 1926 | South-central Africa | Size: 5–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Savanna | NE
|
Sierra Leone free-tailed bat | M. brachypterus (Peters, 1852) Two subspecies
| Western, central, and eastern Africa | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest [77] | LC
|
Solomons mastiff bat | M. solomonis Troughton, 1931 | Solomon Islands | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest, caves, and coastal marine [78] | EN
|
Spotted free-tailed bat | M. bivittatus (Heuglin, 1861) | Eastern Africa | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Savanna, rocky areas, and caves [79] | LC
|
Spurrell's free-tailed bat | M. spurrelli Dollman, 1911 | Western and central Africa | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail 2–3 cm (1 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest [80] | LC
|
Sulawesi free-tailed bat | M. sarasinorum (von Meyer, 1899) Two subspecies
| Indonesia and the Philippines | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest [81] | DD
|
Trevor's free-tailed bat | M. trevori Allen, 1917 | Western and central Africa | Size: 8–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 5–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest and savanna [82] | DD
|
White-bellied free-tailed bat | M. niveiventer Cabrera & Ruxton, 1926 | Central Africa | Size: 7–8 cm (3 in), plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest and savanna [83] | LC
|
Wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bat | M. plicatus Buchanan, 1880 | Eastern and southeastern Asia | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [49] Habitat: Forest and caves [84] | LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Incan little mastiff bat | M. phrudus Handley, 1956 | Peru | Size: 5–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Forest and caves [85] | VU
|
Kalinowski's mastiff bat | M. kalinowskii (Thomas, 1893) | Peru and northern Chile | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Shrubland and caves [86] | LC
|
Little goblin bat | M. minutus (Miller, 1899) | Cuba | Size: 4–5 cm (2 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 2–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Forest [87] | VU
|
Natal free-tailed bat | M. acetabulosus Hermann, 1804 | Island of Mauritius | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 4–5 cm (2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and caves [88] | EN
|
Peters's wrinkle-lipped bat | M. jugularis Peters, 1865 | Madagascar | Size: 6–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Forest, rocky areas, and caves [89] | LC
|
Reunion little mastiff bat | M. francoismoutoui Goodman, Vuuren, Ratrimomanarivo, Probst, & Bowie, 2008 | Island of Réunion | Size: 5–6 cm (2 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Rocky areas [90] | LC
|
Sumatran mastiff bat | M. doriae K. Andersen, 1907 | Island of Sumatra in Indonesia | Size: Unknown length, plus about 3 cm (1 in) tail About 4 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Unknown [91] | DD
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bini free-tailed bat | M. whitleyi (Scharff, 1900) | Central Africa | Size: 5–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest [92] | LC
|
Daubenton's free-tailed bat | M. daubentonii Desmarest, 1820 Two subspecies
| Western and central Africa | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest and savanna [93] | DD
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Big free-tailed bat | N. macrotis (Gray, 1839) | North and South America | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 4–7 cm (2–3 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest [94] | LC
|
Broad-eared bat | N. laticaudatus Geoffroy, 1805 Five subspecies
| Mexico, Central America, and South America | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest [95] | LC
|
Peale's free-tailed bat | N. aurispinosus Peale, 1848 | Mexico and South America | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest and caves [96] | LC
|
Pocketed free-tailed bat | N. femorosaccus (Merriam, 1889) | Mexico and southern United States | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Rocky areas and caves [97] | LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Big-eared mastiff bat | O. papuensis Lawrence, 1948 | Papua New Guinea | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest [98] | DD
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Harrison's large-eared giant mastiff bat | O. harrisoni Ralph, Richards, Taylor, Napier, & Lamb, 2015 | Eastern Africa and southern Arabian Peninsula | Size: 9–11 cm (4 in), plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail 6–8 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest and savanna [99] | VU
|
Javan mastiff bat | O. formosus Chasen, 1939 | Indonesia | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 5–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Unknown [100] | DD
|
Johnstone's mastiff bat | O. johnstonei Kitchener, How, & Maryanto, 1992 | Indonesia | Size: About 8 cm (3 in), plus about 4 cm (2 in) tail About 6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest [101] | DD
|
Large-eared free-tailed bat | O. martiensseni Matschie, 1897 | Scattered Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: 8–11 cm (3–4 in), plus 3–6 cm (1–2 in) tail 6–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest and savanna [102] | NT
|
Madagascar free-tailed bat | O. madagascariensis Dorst, 1953 | Madagascar | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest and caves [103] | LC
|
Mantled mastiff bat | O. secundus Hayman, 1952 | Papua New Guinea | Size: 7–8 cm (3 in), plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail About 6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest [104] | DD
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Wroughton's free-tailed bat | O. wroughtoni (Thomas, 1913) | Scattered southern Asia | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in), plus 4–5 cm (2 in) tail 6–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [19] Habitat: Forest and caves [105] | DD
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Beccari's free-tailed bat | O. beccarii Peters, 1881 Two subspecies
| Indonesia and Papua New Guinea | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and caves [106] | LC
|
Cape York free-tailed bat | O. halli (Reardon, McKenzie, & Adams, 2014) | Northern Australia | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest [107] | DD
|
Inland free-tailed bat | O. petersi (Leche, 1884) | Australia | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Desert, inland wetlands, grassland, and shrubland [108] | LC
|
Loria's free-tailed bat | O. loriae Thomas, 1897 | Papua New Guinea | Size: 4–5 cm (2 in), plus about 3 cm (1 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest [109] | DD
|
Lumsden's free-tailed bat | O. lumsdenae (Reardon, McKenzie, & Adams, 2014) | Northern Australia | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands [110] | LC
|
Northern coastal free-tailed bat | O. cobourgianus (Johnson, 1959) | Northern Australia | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest and other [111] | LC
|
Ride's free-tailed bat | O. ridei Felten, 1964 | Eastern Australia | Size: 5–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and inland wetlands [112] | LC
|
South-western free-tailed bat | O. kitcheneri (Reardon, McKenzie, & Adams, 2014) | Southwestern Australia | Size: 5–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest and shrubland [113] | LC
|
Southern free-tailed bat | O. planiceps Peters, 1866 | Australia | Size: 5–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest and shrubland [114] | LC
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Peters's flat-headed bat | P. setiger (Peters, 1878) | Eastern Africa | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 2–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Savanna and rocky areas [115] | LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Big crested mastiff bat | P. centralis Thomas, 1915 | Southern Mexico, Central America, and South America | Size: 5–10 cm (2–4 in), plus 4–7 cm (2–3 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest and unknown [116] | LC
|
Brown mastiff bat | P. nasutus Spix, 1823 | South America | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Unknown [117] | LC
|
Davison's mastiff bat | P. davisoni Thomas, 1921 | Peru and Ecuador | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [12] Habitat: Forest [118] | DD
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Roberts's flat-headed bat | S. petrophilus (Roberts, 1917) Five subspecies
| Southern Africa | Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in), plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and rocky areas [119] | LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hairy-nosed free-tailed bat | S. eleryi Reardon & McKenzie, 2008 | Australia | Size: 4–5 cm (2 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and rocky areas [120] | NT
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
African giant free-tailed bat | T. ventralis (Heuglin, 1861) | Eastern Africa | Size: 9–11 cm (4 in), plus 5–7 cm (2–3 in) tail 6–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Savanna and rocky areas [121] | DD
|
East Asian free-tailed bat | T. insignis (Blyth, 1862) | Eastern Asia | Size: 8–11 cm (3–4 in), plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Coastal marine, caves, grassland, and forest [122] | DD
|
Egyptian free-tailed bat | T. aegyptiaca (Geoffroy, 1818) | Scattered Africa, Arabian Peninsula, and southern Asia | Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in), plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Savanna and shrubland [123] | LC
|
European free-tailed bat | T. teniotis (Rafinesque, 1814) | Southern Europe, northern Africa, western Asia, and scattered central Asia | Size: 8–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 3–6 cm (1–2 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Shrubland, grassland, rocky areas, caves, and desert [124] | LC
|
Kenyan big-eared free-tailed bat | T. lobata Thomas, 1891 | Eastern and southern Africa | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Savanna and rocky areas [125] | LC
|
La Touche's free-tailed bat | T. latouchei Thomas, 1920 | Eastern and southereastern Asia | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 4–5 cm (2 in) tail 5–6 cm (2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Caves and forest [126] | EN
|
Madagascan large free-tailed bat | T. fulminans Thomas, 1903 | Eastern and southern Africa and Madagascar | Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in), plus 5–7 cm (2–3 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and rocky areas [127] | LC
|
Mexican free-tailed bat | T. brasiliensis (Geoffroy, 1824) | North America and South America | Size: 4–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [6] Habitat: Forest, rocky areas, caves, and desert [128] | LC |
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blunt-eared bat | T. ravus Miller, 1900 | Peru | Size: 3–5 cm (1–2 in), plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) arm/wing length [9] Habitat: Caves [129] | EN
|
The intermediate slit-faced bat is a species of slit-faced bat living in forest and savanna regions of west and central Africa. It is easily confused with Nycteris arge and Nycteris nana. It is broadly distributed, but is classified as near-threatened because of the threat of predicted habitat loss. It is much more restricted to true rainforest than is N. arge.
Pel's pouched bat is a species of sac-winged bat in the family Emballonuridae. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical forests.
Duke of Abruzzi's free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, South Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and moist savanna. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The gland-tailed free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, dry savanna, and caves.
The spotted free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, and rocky areas.
Chapin's free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in central and southern Africa.
The lappet-eared free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and moist savanna.
The Nigerian free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is native to two widely separated parts of Africa, and is sometimes considered to represent two separate species.
The russet free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, and Kenya. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The sooty roundleaf bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and moist savanna.
The Sierra Leone free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, and possibly the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The Medje free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The Mongalla free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland.
The Midas free-tailed bat is a species of bat scientifically classified in the order Chiroptera and the family Molossidae. It is distributed from western Africa to Saudi Arabia and further south. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, woodlands and hot deserts. The more southern are also known to live around large rivers or the swamps.
Peters's flat-headed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae and the monotypic genus Platymops. It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and rocky areas.
The Aldabra flying fox is a species of megabat in the genus Pteropus. It is endemic to the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, like Chaerephon pusilla, though the latter may be the same species as the little free-tailed bat.
The Egyptian free-tailed bat, also known as Egyptian guano bat or Egyptian nyctinome, is a species of bat in the family Molossidae.
Bat Conservation International (BCI) is an international nongovernmental organization working to conserve bats and their habitats through conservation, education, and research efforts.