Free-tailed Bat

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Free-tailed Bats
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Chiroptera Family: Molossidae

The Free-tailed bats in the family Molossidae are generally quite robust and consist of many strong flying forms with relatively long and narrow wings. Another common usage of name for some of this group, and indeed a few species from other genera is Mastiff Bat. The Western Mastiff Bat, Eumops perotis, a large species from the southwestern United States and Mexico with wings almost two feet across is perhaps one of the best known with this name.

The family name is derived from a length of "free" tail exposed (usually best seen when resting). A special ring of cartilage slides up or down the tail vertebrae by muscular action to stretch or retract the skin membrane between it (the tail) and the supporting rear legs. This gives many species a degree of fine tuning in their flight maneuvers to rival their day flying ecological equivalents such as Swifts Apodidae and Swallows and Martins Hirundinidae.

There are sixteen genera and eighty five species in total:

• Mormopterus (Little Goblin Bats)
  • M. acetabulosus (subgenus Mormopterus)
  • M. doriae (Mo.)
  • M. jugularis (Mo.)
  • M. kalinowskii (Mo.)
  • M. minutus (Mo.)
  • M. phrudus (Mo.)
  • M. beccarii (subgenus Micronomus)
  • M. loriae (Mi.)
  • M. norfolkensis (Mi.)
  • M. planiceps (Mi.)
• Sauromys (South African Flat-headed Bat)
  • S. petrophilus
• Platymops (Flat-headed Free-tailed Bat)
  • P. setiger
• Molossops (Broad-faced Bats)
  • M. neglectus (subgenus Molossops)
  • M. temminckii (Mo.)
  • M. abrasus (subgenus Cynomops)
  • M. greenhalli (Cy.)
  • M. planirostris (Cy.)
• Neoplatymops (South American Flat-headed Bat)
  • N. mattogrossensis
• Cabreramops
  • (genus created for species first classified as Molossops aequatorianus)
• Myopterus
  • M. albatus
  • M. daubentonii
  • M. whitleyi
• Tadarida (Free-tailed Bats)
  • T. brasiliensis (Now in subgenus Rhizomops)
  • T. aegyptiaca
  • T. australis
  • T. fulminans
  • T. kuboriensis
  • T. lobata
  • T. teniotis
  • T. ventralis
• Chaerephon (Lesser Mastiff Bats)
  • C. aloysiisabaudiae
  • C. ansorgei
  • C. bemmelini
  • C. bivittata
  • C. chapini
  • C. gallagheri
  • C. jobensis
  • C. johorensis
  • C. major
  • C. nigeriae
  • C. plicata
  • C. pumila
  • C. russata
• Mops (Greater Mastiff Bats)
  • M. condylurus (subgenus Mops)
  • M. congica (Mo.)
  • M. demonstrator (Mo.)
  • M. midas (Mo.)
  • M. mops (Mo.)
  • M. niveiventer (Mo.)
  • M. sarasinorum (Mo.)
  • M. trevori (Mo.)
  • M. brachyptera (subgenus Xiphonycteris)
  • M. leonis (Xi.)
  • M. nanulus (Xi.)
  • M. petersoni (Xi.)
  • M. spurrelli (Xi.)
  • M. thersites (Xi.)
• Otomops (Big-eared Free-tailed Bats)
  • O. formosus
  • O. martiensseni
  • O. papuensis
  • O. secundus
  • O. wroughtoni
• Nyctinomops (New World Free-tailed Bats)
  • N. aurispinosus
  • N. femorosaccus
  • N. laticaudatus
  • N. macrotis
• Eumops (Mastiff Bats, or Bonneted Bats)
  • E. auripendulus
  • E. bonariensis
  • E. dabbenei
  • E. glaucinus
  • E. hansae
  • E. maurus
  • E. perotis
  • E. trumbulli
  • E. underwoodi
• Promops (Domed-palate Mastiff Bats)
  • P. centralis
  • P. nasutus
• Molossus (Velvety Free-tailed Bats)
  • M. ater
  • M. barnesi
  • M. bondae
  • M. molossus
  • M. pretiosus
  • M. sinaloae
  • M. trinitatus
• Cheiromeles (Naked Bats, or Hairless Bats)
  • C. parvidens
  • C. torquatus