Free-tailed Bat

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 families 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

References in Borneo

Abdullah MT. 2003. Biogeography and variation of Cynopterus brachyotis in Southeast Asia. PhD thesis. The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.

Corbet, GB, Hill JE. 1992. The mammals of the Indomalayan region: a systematic review. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Hall LS, Gordon G. Grigg, Craig Moritz, Besar Ketol, Isa Sait, Wahab Marni and M.T. Abdullah. 2004. Biogeography of fruit bats in Southeast Asia. Sarawak Museum Journal LX(81):191-284.

Karim, C., A.A. Tuen and M.T. Abdullah. 2004. Mammals. Sarawak Museum Journal Special Issue No. 6. 80: 221—234.

Mohd. Azlan J., Ibnu Maryanto , Agus P. Kartono and M.T. Abdullah. 2003 Diversity, Relative Abundance and Conservation of Chiropterans in Kayan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Sarawak Museum Journal 79: 251-265.

Hall LS, Richards GC, Abdullah MT. 2002. The bats of Niah National Park, Sarawak. Sarawak Museum Journal. 78: 255-282.

Wilson DE, Reeder DM. 2005. Mammal species of the world. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC.

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See also

References in Borneo