# Tadarida teniotis The Tadarida teniotis, also known as the European free-tailed bat, is a small bat that loves to fly at night. It has long wings and can zoom through the air, catching insects to eat. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Caves and urban areas - **Also known as:** European Free-tailed Bat ![Tadarida teniotis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Tadarida.teniotis.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ramón Caballero García, GPL · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tadarida.teniotis.jpg) ## Appearance The Tadarida teniotis is a large, grey-brown bat with a robust body and a distinctive 'free' tail that extends beyond its tail membrane. It has large, forward-pointing ears and a wrinkled upper lip, giving it a unique facial appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Molossidae - **Genus:** Tadarida ## Interesting facts - Its 'free tail' acts like a rudder, helping it steer at top speeds! - Their giant ears help them listen to insect prey from over a mile away! - These bats can fly incredibly high, sometimes even above mountains! - They have wrinkled lips that help them make their special echolocation calls! ## Special abilities - **High-Altitude Hunter:** Tadarida teniotis can hunt high above the ground because of its powerful, narrow wings that help it fly fast and efficiently. - **Long-Distance Listener:** Tadarida teniotis has huge, wrinkled ears that help them detect tiny insect movements from far away, even in the dark. - **Precision Navigator:** Tadarida teniotis has a 'free' tail that helps them maneuver quickly and precisely in the air while chasing agile insect prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 13-15 cm - **Wingspan:** 41-45 cm - **Weight:** 0.017-0.05 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 100 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 50-70 days ## Diet & Feeding This speedy bat is an expert at catching flying insects like moths and beetles high in the sky! - **Primary Foods:** Moths, Beetles, Crickets, Grasshoppers, Flies - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Eagle-Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-eagle-owl) (*Bubo bubo*) — Owls are known to prey on bats during their nocturnal hunts. - **Eaten by:** [Peregrine Falcon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peregrine-falcon) (*Falco peregrinus*) — Falcons sometimes catch bats, especially during twilight hours. - **Eats:** [Large Yellow Underwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/large-yellow-underwing) (*Noctua pronuba*) — This bat effectively hunts large night-flying moths as prey. - **Eats:** [Common Cockchafer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-cockchafer) (*Melolontha melolontha*) — Large beetles are a significant part of their aerial insect diet. ## Traits - [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. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [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. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [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:** 1/5 · Very low Bats are usually not dangerous, but it's best to watch them from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tadarida teniotis? 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 Tadarida teniotis? 13-15 cm ### What is Tadarida teniotis's wingspan? 41-45 cm ### How much does Tadarida teniotis weigh? 0.017-0.05 kg ### How long does Tadarida teniotis live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Tadarida teniotis move? 100 km/h ### What does Tadarida teniotis eat? This speedy bat is an expert at catching flying insects like moths and beetles high in the sky! ### Where is Tadarida teniotis usually found? Caves and urban areas ## 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: [Tadarida teniotis: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tadarida-teniotis)