Emballonuridae Archives

Emballonuridae - Sac-Winged Bats, Sheath-Tailed Bats

There are around 52 species in this family of small to medium-sized bats. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas in North America, South America, Central America, Asia, Africa, and Australia and surrounding islands.

Sac-winged bats get their name from a scent gland sac on the front edge of the wings of many species. The scent gland is used by the bats to mark their territory. Sheath-tailed bats get their name from a membrane that encloses all but a small bit of their short tails.

The bats in this family have large ears and small eyes and are usually gray or brown. They roost on vertical surfaces like tree trunks, the sides of buildings, cave walls, or cliffsides.

Thomas's Sac-Winged Bat
(Balantiopteryx io)

Thomas's sac-winged bat is found in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
Gray Sac-Winged Bat
(Balantiopteryx plicata)

The gray sac-winged bat is found from Mexico south to Costa Rica. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Thomas's Shaggy Bat
(Centronycteris centralis)

Thomas's shaggy bat is found in Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Northern Ghost Bat
(Diclidurus albus)

The northern ghost bat is found from Mexico through Central America south to Brazil and Paraguay in South America. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Pacific Sheath-Tailed Bat
(Emballonura semicaudata)

The Pacific sheath-tailed bat is found in Fiji, Micronesia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
Greater Dog-Like Bat
(Peropteryx kappleri)

The greater dog-like bat is found in Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Lesser Dog-Like Bat
(Peropteryx macrotis)

The lesser dog-like bat is found in Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Trinidad Dog-Like Bat
(Peropteryx trinitatis)

The Trinidad dog-like bat is found in Aruba, Brazil, French Guiana, Grenada, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Data Deficient
Lesser Sac-Winged Bat
(Saccopteryx leptura)

The lesser sac-winged bat is found in Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Coastal Sheath-Tailed Bat
(Taphozous australis)

The coastal sheath-tailed bat is found in coastal Queensland, Australia and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist: Near Threatened
Mauritian Tomb Bat
(Taphozous mauritianus)

The Mauritian tomb bat is found in much of Sub-Sahara Africa, including Madagascar. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Black-Bearded Tomb Bat
(Taphozous melanopogon)

The black-bearded tomb bat is found in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern