Wildlife Journal Junior!
New Hampshire PBS

Home       |       Wild Files       |       N.H. Animals       |       Animals A-Z       |       Watch Online

Molossidae - free-tailed bats

European free-tail batThere are around 100 species in this family of small to large bats. They are found in from the mid United States south to Central and South America. They are also found in Europe and Africa.

They have long, external tails; large, sometimes uniquely-shaped, ears that are joined by a membrane at the base; small eyes; long, narrow wings; and well-developed legs that they use for walking. They have short black or brown fur and thick lips and snouts.

They are found in caves, old buildings, and hollow trees. Most species roost in colonies. They eat flying insects.

 

World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinctExtinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in US Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in US Endangered in NH Endangered in NH Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

  New Hampshire Species

 

 North/Central American Species

None
  Aztec Mastiff Bat - Molossus aztecus Least Concern
Coiban Mastiff Bat - Molossus coibensis Least Concern
Thomas's Mastiff Bat - Molossus currentium Least Concern
Pallas's Mastiff Bat - Molossus molossus Least Concern
Miller's Mastiff Bat - Molossus pretiosus Least Concern
Black Mastiff Bat - Molossus rufus Least Concern
Sinaloan Mastiff Bat - Molossus sinaloae Least Concern
Little Goblin Bat - Mormopterus minutus Vulnerable
Peale's Free-tailed Bat - Nyctinomops aurispinosus Least Concern
Pocketed Free-tailed Bat - Nyctinomops femorosaccus Least Concern
Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat - Nyctinomops laticaudatus Least Concern
Big Free-tailed Bat - Nyctinomops macrotis Least Concern
Big Crested Mastiff Bat - Promops centralis Least Concern
Brown Mastiff Bat - Promops nasutus Least Concern
Brazilian Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida brasiliensis Least Concern

North/Central American Species

 
Greenhall's Dog-faced Bat - Cynomops greenhalli Least Concern
Mexican Dog-faced Bat - Cynomops mexicanus Least Concern
Brown Dog-faced Bat - Cynomops paranus
Southern Dog-faced Bat - Cynomops planirostris Least Concern
Black Bonneted Bat - Eumops auripendulus Least Concern
Dwarf Bonneted Bat - Eumops bonariensis Least Concern
Florida Bonneted Bat - Eumops floridanus Critically Endangered
Wagner's Bonneted Bat - Eumops glaucinus Least Concern
Sanborn's Bonneted Bat - Eumops hansae Least Concern
Western Bonneted Bat - Eumops perotis Least Concern
Underwood's Bonneted Bat - Eumops underwoodi Least Concern
 

Other Species Around the World

Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North America South AmericaSouth America New Hampshire Species NH Species

Lesser Naked Bat - Cheiromeles parvidens Least Concern Asia
Greater Naked Bat - Cheiromeles torquatus Least Concern Asia
Cinnamon Dog-faced Bat - Cynomops abrasus South America
Greenhall's Dog-faced Bat - Cynomops greenhalli Least Concern North America South America
Mexican Dog-faced Bat - Cynomops mexicanus Least Concern North America
Brown Dog-faced Bat - Cynomops paranus North America South America
Southern Dog-faced Bat - Cynomops planirostris Least Concern North America South America
Black Bonneted Bat - Eumops auripendulus Least Concern North America South America
Dwarf Bonneted Bat - Eumops bonariensis Least Concern North America South America
Dabbene's Mastiff Bat - Eumops dabbenei Least Concern South America
Florida Bonneted Bat - Eumops floridanus Critically Endangered North America
Wagner's Bonneted Bat - Eumops glaucinus Least Concern North America South America
Sanborn's Bonneted Bat - Eumops hansae Least Concern North America South America
Guianan Bonneted Bat - Eumops maurus South America
Patagonian Dwarf Bonneted Bat - Eumops patagonicus Least Concern South America
Western Bonneted Bat - Eumops perotis Least Concern North America South America
Eumops trumbulli South America
Underwood's Bonneted Bat - Eumops underwoodi Least Concern North America
Equatorial Dog-faced Bat - Molossops aequatorianus Vulnerable South America
Mato Grosso Dog-faced Bat - Molossops mattogrossensis Least Concern South America
Rufous Dog-faced Bat - Molossops neglectus South America
Dwarf Dog-faced Bat - Molossops temminckii Least Concern South America
Aztec Mastiff Bat - Molossus aztecus Least Concern North America South America
Molossus barnesi South America
Coiban Mastiff Bat - Molossus coibensis Least Concern North America South America
Thomas's Mastiff Bat - Molossus currentium Least Concern Australia North America South America
Pallas's Mastiff Bat - Molossus molossus Least Concern North America South America
Miller's Mastiff Bat - Molossus pretiosus Least Concern North America South America
Black Mastiff Bat - Molossus rufus Least Concern North America South America
Sinaloan Mastiff Bat - Molossus sinaloae Least Concern North America South America
Natal Free-tailed Bat - Mormopterus acetabulosus Vulnerable Africa
Beccari's Free-tailed Bat - Mormopterus beccarii Least Concern Asia Australia
Sumatran Mastiff Bat - Mormopterus doriae Asia
Peters' Wrinkle-lipped Bat - Mormopterus jugularis Least Concern Africa
Kalinowski's Mastiff Bat - Mormopterus kalinowskii Least Concern South America
Little Northern Free-tailed Bat - Mormopterus loriae Least Concern Australia
Little Goblin Bat - Mormopterus minutus Vulnerable North America
East-coast Free-tailed Bat - Mormopterus norfolkensis Vulnerable Australia
Incan Little Mastiff Bat - Mormopterus phrudus Vulnerable South America
Southern Free-tailed Bat - Mormopterus planiceps Least Concern Asia Australia
Daubenton's Free-tailed Bat - Myopterus daubentonii Africa
Bini Free-tailed Bat - Myopterus whitleyi Least Concern Africa
Peale's Free-tailed Bat - Nyctinomops aurispinosus Least Concern North America South America
Pocketed Free-tailed Bat - Nyctinomops femorosaccus Least Concern North America
Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat-Nyctinomops laticaudatus Least Concern North America South America
Big Free-tailed Bat - Nyctinomops macrotis Least Concern North America South America
Java Giant Mastiff Bat - Otomops formosus Asia
Johnstone's Giant Mastiff Bat - Otomops johnstonei Asia
Madagascar Free-tailed Bat - Otomops madagascariensis Least Concern Africa
Large-eared Free-tailed Bat - Otomops martiensseni Near Threatened Africa Asia
  Papuan Free-tailed Bat - Otomops papuensis Australia
Mantled Free-tailed Bat - Otomops secundus Australia
Wroughton's Free-tailed Bat - Otomops wroughtoni Asia
Peters's Flat-headed Bat - Platymops setiger Least Concern Africa
Big Crested Mastiff Bat - Promops centralis Least Concern North America South America
Brown Mastiff Bat - Promops nasutus Least Concern North America South America
Roberts's Flat-headed Bat - Sauromys petrophilus Least Concern Africa
Egyptian Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida aegyptiaca Least Concern Africa Asia
Duke Of Abruzzi's Free-tailed Bat-Tadarida aloysiisabaudiae Least Concern Africa
Ansorge's Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida ansorgei Least Concern Africa
White-striped Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida australis Least Concern Australia
Gland-tailed Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida bemmeleni Least Concern Africa
Spotted Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida bivittata Least Concern Africa
Sierra Leone Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida brachyptera Least Concern Africa
Brazilian Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida brasiliensis Least Concern North America South America
Fijian Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida bregullae Endangered Australia
Chapin's Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida chapini Least Concern Africa
Angolan Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida condylura Least Concern Africa
Medje Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida congica Least Concern Africa
Mongalla Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida demonstrator Least Concern Africa
Malagasy Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida fulminans Least Concern Africa
Gallagher's Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida gallagheri Africa
East Asian Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida insignis Asia
Northern Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida jobensis Least Concern Asia
Black And Red Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida jobimena Least Concern Africa
Northern Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida johorensis Vulnerable Australia
New Guinea Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida kuboriensis Least Concern Asia Australia
La Touche's Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida latouchei Asia
Malagasy White-bellied Free-tailed Bat-Tadarida leucostigma Least Concern Africa
Kenyan Big-eared Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida lobata Least Concern Africa
Lappet-eared Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida major Least Concern Africa
Midas Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida midas Least Concern Africa Asia
Malayan Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida mops Near Threatened Asia
Dwarf Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida nanula Least Concern Africa
Niangara Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida niangarae Africa
Nigerian Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida nigeriae Least Concern Africa
White-bellied Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida niveiventer Least Concern Africa
Peterson's Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida petersoni Near Threatened Africa
Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida plicata Least Concern Asia
Little Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida pumila Least Concern Africa Asia
Russet Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida russata Africa
Sulawesian Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida sarasinorum Asia
Solomons Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida solomonis Least Concern Australia
Spurrell's Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida spurrelli Least Concern Africa
European Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida teniotis Least Concern Africa Asia Europe
Railer Bat - Tadarida thersites Least Concern Africa
São Tomé Free-tailed Bat. - Tadarida tomensis Endangered Africa
Trevor's Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida trevori Africa
African Giant Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida ventralis Africa
Blunt-eared Bat - Tomopeas ravus Vulnerable South America

Additional Information

Key: profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio

Brazilian Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida brasiliensis profile Photos Video Least Concern North America South America
The Brazilian free-tailed bat is found from southern Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile north to Oregon, southern Nebraska and Ohio.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Brazilian Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida brasiliensis profile Photos Least Concern North America South America
The Brazilian free-tailed bats have powerful legs and are good climbers.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Daubenton's Free-tailed Bat - Myopterus daubentonii Photos Africa
Dauberton's free-tailed bat is found in the Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Dwarf Bonneted Bat - Eumops bonariensis profile Photos Least Concern North America South America
The dwarf bonneted bat is found in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Dwarf Dog-faced Bat - Molossops temminckii profile Photos Least Concern South America
The dwarf dog-faced bat is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

East-coast Free-tailed Bat - Mormopterus norfolkensis Photos Vulnerable Australia
The east-coast free-tailed bat is found in Australia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Egyptian Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida aegyptiaca profile Photos Least Concern Africa Asia
The Egyptian free-tailed bats prefer roosting in rock crevices and cliff faces.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Egyptian Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida aegyptiaca profile Photos Least Concern Africa Asia
The Egyptian free-tailed bat is found in Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Botswana, Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

European Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida teniotis profile Photos Least Concern Africa Asia Europe
The European free-tailed bat is found in the Mediterranean basin.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Greater Naked Bat - Cheiromeles torquatus profile Photos Least Concern Asia
The greater naked bat is found in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Little Goblin Bat - Mormopterus minutus Photos Vulnerable North America
The little goblin bat is found in Cuba.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Western Bonneted Bat - Eumops perotis profile Photos Least Concern North America South America
The western bonneted bat is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru. It is found in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas in the U.S. .
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

White-striped Free-tailed Bat - Tadarida australis profile Photos Least Concern Australia
The white-striped free-tailed bat is found in Australia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Wroughton's Free-tailed Bat - Otomops wroughtoni profile Photos Asia
Wroughton's free-tailed bat is found in Cambodia and India.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School