Mormoopidae

The family Mormoopidae contains bats known generally as moustache bats, ghost-faced bats, and naked-backed bats. They are found in Central and South America, from Southern Mexico to Southeastern Brazil. They are distinguished by the presence of a leaf-like projection from their lips, instead of the nose-leaf found in many other bat species. In some species, the wing membranes join over the animal's back, making it appear hairless. The tail projects only a short distance beyond the membrane that stretches between the hind legs. They are brownish in colour, with short, dense fur^[1]. Their dental formula is:

Mormoopid bats roost in caves and tunnels in huge colonies that may include hundreds of thousands of members, producing enough guano to allow commercial mining. Living in a tropical part of the world, they do not hibernate, as some other bats do. They feed on insects found close to, or on, bodies of water^[1].

Classification

The family consists of two genera, containing around 13 species.

• Genus Mormoops
• Genus Pteronotus

References