# 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. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Cave Dwelling - **Also known as:** Brazilian Free-tailed Bat, Tadarida ![Mexican Free-tailed Bat](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424778/objects/6235.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Molossidae - **Genus:** Tadarida ## 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 - **Supersonic Tracker:** Mexican Free-tailed Bat can pinpoint tiny flying insects in total darkness because of their advanced echolocation system. - **Speed Demon Flier:** Mexican Free-tailed Bat can fly incredibly fast because their long, narrow wings are built for high-speed pursuit. - **Marathon Migrator:** Mexican Free-tailed Bat has the ability to travel thousands of miles during migration that helps them find warm places and food. - **Insect Vacuum:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) — Preys on bats as they emerge from caves. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Cave Dwelling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cave-dwelling): Cave dwelling describes organisms specifically adapted to live in underground cave systems, often exhibiting specialized traits due to lack of light. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Echolocation](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/echolocation): Echolocation is a biological sonar used by animals to navigate, hunt, and communicate by emitting sound waves and interpreting the echoes. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Bats are shy animals, so it's best to watch them from a distance and not disturb them in their homes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mexican Free-tailed Bat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Mexican Free-tailed Bat? 9-14 cm ### What is Mexican Free-tailed Bat's wingspan? 28-35 cm ### How much does Mexican Free-tailed Bat weigh? 0.007-0.015 kg ### How long does Mexican Free-tailed Bat live? 8-18 years ### How fast can Mexican Free-tailed Bat move? 160 km/h ### What does Mexican Free-tailed Bat eat? Zipping through the night, they catch moths, beetles, and other flying insects right out of the air! ### Where is Mexican Free-tailed Bat usually found? Cave Dwelling ## Where to spot - [Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/natural-bridge-wildlife-ranch) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Bracken Cave](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bracken-cave) — Texas, US · Natural Landmark - [Demopolis Town Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/demopolis-town-square) — Alabama, US · Park - [Natural Bridge Caverns](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/natural-bridge-caverns) — Texas, US · Natural Landmark - [Singletary Lake State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/singletary-lake-state-park) — North Carolina, US · State Park [View all places to see Mexican Free-tailed Bat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/mexican-free-tailed-bat) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Mexican Free-tailed Bat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mexican-free-tailed-bat)