Nigerian free-tailed bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nigerian free-tailed bat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Mops
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| Species: |
nigeriae
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| Subspecies | |
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M. nigeriae nigeriae |
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| Synonyms | |
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Tadarida nigeriae |
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The Nigerian free-tailed bat (Mops nigeriae) is a type of bat that belongs to the Molossidae family. These bats are known for their tails, which stick out freely from the membrane between their legs. You can find them in two different parts of Africa. Some scientists even think these two groups might be separate species!
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What Does the Nigerian Free-Tailed Bat Look Like?
The Nigerian free-tailed bat is one of the bigger "lesser mastiff bats." It grows to about 11 cm (4.3 in) long, not including its tail. Its tail adds another 4 cm (1.6 in) to its length.
This bat has very dark brown fur. It also has cool white stripes of hair on the underside of its wings, where they meet its body. Its wings and the skin between its legs are white and a bit see-through.
Its head is quite flat. It has large, round ears that are connected by a ridge of skin. Male bats have a special crest of hair behind this ridge. They can raise this crest, perhaps to show off to female bats!
Where Do Nigerian Free-Tailed Bats Live?
The Nigerian free-tailed bat has two main groups, called subspecies. Each group lives in a different part of Africa.
One group, called N. nigeriae nigeriae, lives in a wide area. This area stretches from Sierra Leone in the west all the way to the northern part of the Congo. Sometimes, they are even seen as far east as Ethiopia.
The other group, N. nigeriae spillmanni, lives further south. Their home ranges from the southern parts of Congo down to Botswana. You can also find them from Angola to Tanzania and Malawi.
These bats prefer to live in savannah woodlands. They also like the edges of tropical rainforests where some trees have been cleared.
Life and Habits of the Nigerian Free-Tailed Bat
Nigerian free-tailed bats are active at night, which means they are nocturnal. They hunt for insects to eat. During the day, they rest in groups of about ten to fifteen adult bats. They often choose hollow trees or hide under tree bark to sleep.
Reproduction and Young Bats
These bats usually have their babies around the start of the rainy season. In the northern parts of their range, young bats are born between June and August. In the southern areas, babies arrive around December.
