Velvety free-tailed bat

The velvety free-tailed bat, also known as Pallas's mastiff bat, is an intriguing member of the Molossidae family. This medium-sized bat, scientifically named Molossus molossus, measures approximately four inches in length and boasts a wingspan ranging from 11 to 13 inches. Although typically brown, these bats can appear black when flying at dusk. They are easily identifiable by their long tails, which extend beyond the tail membrane, and their large, round ears.

These bats prefer to forage in open areas, above tree canopies, near forest edges, and around bodies of water. Their diet primarily consists of moths, beetles, and flying ants. If you are out at dusk, you might spot one flying solo in pursuit of insects.

Molossus molossus has a wide distribution, spanning from Argentina to Cuba and Mexico, including the Florida Keys in the United States, with a significant presence throughout the Caribbean. In an interesting and rather rare observation, a M. molossus bat was once killed by a giant centipede (Scolopendra viridicornis) in the Amazon. This unusual event occurred in a man-made wooden structure in Cristalino State Park, Brazil, where the centipede managed to capture the bat and inject venom into its neck. This incident underscores the bat's vulnerability, even to unexpected predators like centipedes.