Species Profiles

Common Name: big free-tailed bat
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Nyctinomops
Species: macrotis
Pronunciation: nick-tin-oh-mops ma-crow-tis
Big free-tailed bats typically live in desert and arid grassland areas where rocky out-crops, canyons, or cliffs provide ideal roosts. Occasionally these bats will roost in buildings. They feed mostly on moths, but also crickets, flying ants, stinkbugs, leafhoppers, and froghoppers. The bats are seldom encountered by people, though they can often be heard calling high overhead in cliff-sided river valleys of the Big Bend area.
Approximate Range:
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Further Reading From BATS Magazine
Volume 17, Issue 1, Spring 1999: Arizona Bat-and-Mouse Natural History Tour
Volume 16, Issue 3, Fall 1998: On the Cover
Volume 14, Issue 4, Winter 1996: Newly Announced 1997 Workshop and Volunteer Opportunities

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