Espirito Santo Free-tailed Bat

About the Espirito Santo Free-tailed Bat

The broad-eared bat or broad-tailed bat (Nyctinomops laticaudatus) is a species of free-tailed bat from the Americas. The broad-eared bat is a relatively small bat, measuring about 10 cm (3.9 in) in total length, and weighing 11 g (0.39 oz) on average. The bats have a dark chocolate brown body with paler underparts, and hairless, translucent wings. The snout is pointed with an upturned tip, and the lower jaw is longer and narrower than is typical in free-tailed bats. As the common name of the bat suggests, the ears are unusually wide and rounded, and they join together in the middle of the forehead.

Broad-eared bats are found in tropical and subtropical forests from coastal Mexico to southern Brazil. It has been reported from a range of forest types, as well as scrubland and cerrado habitats, and even in urban areas. It is found from coastal plains to cloud forests as high as 1,500 m (4,900 ft), but is more common below 500 m (1,600 ft). Five subspecies are recognised:

N. l. laticaudatus - southern Paraguay and neighbouring parts of Brazil and Argentina N. l. europs - South America east of the Andes, from Venezuela to northern Paraguay... Wikipedia →