The Habitat of the Free Tailed Bat
Most bats exhibit a short tail that is difficult to distinguish within its membrane. The free-tailed bat's tail protrudes beyond this membrane with a clearly defined length, hence the name. As highly sociable animals, free-tailed bats coexist with bats of other species. Most species are found in the southern United States, Central America and the northern half of South America.
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Big Free-tailed Bat
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This species, Nyctinomops macrotis, is recognizable by its larger size. Big free-tailed bats weigh up to 30 grams or a little over 1 oz. and extend to 134 mm or about 5.27 inches in length. The big free-tailed bat sometimes flies as far north as British Columbia, although its normal range is the southern United States, Central America and as far south as Uruguay. They prefer to roost in rocky canyon crevices, but occasionally inhabit buildings.
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
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Also called the Brazilian free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis, this mammal has red, dark brown or gray fur, long wings and broad ears. It lives throughout the western and southern part of the United States but usually flies south for the winter, migrating to Mexico or Central America and returning in spring.
Brazilian free-tailed bats prefer locations near water, where insects congregate. Caves provide their favorite roosts, but they also nest in derelict buildings or under bridges.
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Pocketed Free-tailed Bat
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The pocketed free-tailed bat, Nyctinomops femorosacca, looks very much like the Brazilian free-tailed bat except that it has a "pocket," or fold of skin, near each knee. Its territory includes parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. A native of the desert and semi-arid environments, it lives in cliff crevices, caves and attics. Little is known of this bat's habits, except that it eats a variety of insects and probably bears one live young in late June or early July.
Wroughton's Free-tailed Bat
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Wroughton's free-tails, Otomops wroughtoni, boast brown and white coloring, short hair and large ears. They subsist on insects and likely bear one live young around December. Small groups of about five to seven individuals live within a colony.
An endangered species, the Wroughton's free-tail does not live in the western hemisphere. This rare and elusive bat has been found only in remote caves in three known colonies. Two colonies exist in India and one lies within the borders of Cambodia.
Interesting Bat Facts
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In one foraging outing, bats consume approximately one-fourth of their weight. During a single night, they may eat half their weight in moths and other insects.
Free-tailed bats live for up to 18 years.
Called the "jets" of the free-tailed species, the Mexican free-tails fly 60 miles per hour.
Contrary to popular myth, bats won't become entangled in human hair.
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References
- Eastern Kentucky University-Kentucky Bat Working Group: Brazilian Free-tailed Bat
- Texas Tech University Natural Science Research Laboratory: Big Free-tailed Bat
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: Mexican Free-tailed Bat
- Texas Tech University Natural Science Research Laboratory: Pocketed Free-tailed Bat
- Zoological Society of London: Wroughton's Free-tailed Bat
Resources
- Photo Credit Vampire Bat Hanging Upside Down image by Lucid_Exposure from Fotolia.com
