Mexican Free-tailed Bat

Tadarida brasiliensis

The Mexican Free-tailed Bat is a flying mammal that sleeps upside down in caves during the day and comes out at night to eat insects. They use echolocation to find their prey and can fly very fast.

Habitat: Cave Dwelling

Appearance

The Mexican Free-tailed Bat is a small, stocky bat with dark brown to grayish-brown fur. It has large, forward-pointing ears and long, narrow wings. A key distinguishing feature is its tail, which extends noticeably beyond the membrane between its legs.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderChiropteraFamilyMolossidaeGenusTadarida

Mexican Free-tailed Bat

Interesting facts

Baby bats, called pups, gather in huge nursery groups inside their mothers' colonies!

Their tiny wrinkled lips actually help them sense and catch flying insects!

These bats have the longest migration of any bat in North America!

They can eat their own weight in insects every single night!

Special abilities

Mexican Free-tailed Bat can pinpoint tiny flying insects in total darkness because of their advanced echolocation system.

Mexican Free-tailed Bat can fly incredibly fast because their long, narrow wings are built for high-speed pursuit.

Mexican Free-tailed Bat has the ability to travel thousands of miles during migration that helps them find warm places and food.

Mexican Free-tailed Bat can consume huge numbers of night-flying insects because they hunt continuously for hours each night.

Measurements & details

Length: 9-14 cm
Wingspan: 28-35 cm
Weight: 0.007-0.015 kg
Lifespan: 8-18 years
Top Speed: 160 km/h
Litter Size: 1
Gestation: 77 days

Diet & Feeding

Zipping through the night, they catch moths, beetles, and other flying insects right out of the air!

Primary Foods

moths
beetles
true bugs
flies
wasps

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Tobacco Hornworm Moth

Manduca sexta

A primary prey insect for the bat.

eaten by

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Preys on bats as they emerge from caves.

eaten by

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

A nocturnal predator of emerging bats.

parasitizes

Cayenne Tick

Amblyomma cajennense

Attaches to bats, feeding on their blood.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Furry

Find adorable animals covered in a cozy coat of soft fur! Their fur helps them stay warm and protected in different environments.

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Cave Dwelling

These fascinating creatures thrive in the mysterious depths of caves, often adapted to life with little or no light! Explore the secrets of the underground.

Insectivorous

Discover clever creatures that specialize in munching on insects, playing a super important role in keeping bug populations in check. They are nature's tiny bug vacuums!

Echolocation

Listen closely to animals that use special sounds to "see" in the dark! They send out sound waves and listen to the echoes to find their way and catch prey.

Keystone Species

Discover the hidden heroes of nature! These special species play an incredibly important role in their habitat, holding the entire ecosystem together like a crucial piece of a puzzle.