© Merlin D. Tuttle, BCI

Mormoops megalophylla  Peters’s ghost-faced bat (Mormoopidae)  Mormoops megalophylla  Peters’s ghost-faced bat  Family Name: Mormoopidae  Genus: Mormoops  Species Name: megalophylla  Pronunciation: more-moops meg-a-low-file-lah     Common Name: Peters’s ghost-faced bat

Peter's ghost-faced bats get their name from their rather bizarre appearance. They have conspicuous flaps of skin on the chin. Large, round ears join across the forehead , and their eyes appear to be located in their ears. These bats live in semiarid and desert areas, usually at elevations below 9,000 feet. Prey include large, soft-bodied moths, though this bat's diet is poorly documented.

They most often roost in caves, rock crevices, and abandoned mines, although they occasionally move into old buildings. Colonies in Latin America may contain up to 500,000 individuals. Roosting sites are often shared with cave myotis and Mexican free-tailed bats. Peter's ghost-faced bats are rarely encountered by people. Cavers occasionally find colonies roosting in caves and should avoid disturbing them.

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