Tadarida
Encyclopedia
The genus
Tadarida has ten or more species of bat
s divided into two subgenera, with the first of these containing seven species spread across the Old World
(including southern Europe
and North Africa
, large parts of southern Asia
, and India
right across to Japan
). Four species occur exclusively in Africa
including Madagascar
while two more species occur in central Papua New Guinea
, and western and southern Australia
respectively.
The relatively well known species T. teniotis, which occurs in southern Europe and North Africa, the Middle East
and all the way across southern Asia to Japan, is known to fly often during the late afternoon where it will hawk for insects alongside swifts (Apodidae), swallows and martins Hirundinidae.
The Australian species T. australis is the largest in the genus, with a head and body length of 85–100 mm, and a tail length of 40–55 mm.
The other subgenus contains the widespread New World
single species T. brasiliensis (subgenus Rhizomops) which ranges from the southern United States
and the West Indies all the way to Chile
and Argentina
. This species is noted for its massive maternity colonies in the United States, especially in the southwest where an estimated population of over 25 million (possibly as high as 50 million) existed in Eagle Creek Cave in Arizona
in the 1960s.
Species list for genus:
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/Tadarida.html#Tadarida
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Tadarida has ten or more species of bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
s divided into two subgenera, with the first of these containing seven species spread across the Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
(including southern Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, large parts of southern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
right across to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
). Four species occur exclusively in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
including Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
while two more species occur in central Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, and western and southern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
respectively.
The relatively well known species T. teniotis, which occurs in southern Europe and North Africa, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and all the way across southern Asia to Japan, is known to fly often during the late afternoon where it will hawk for insects alongside swifts (Apodidae), swallows and martins Hirundinidae.
The Australian species T. australis is the largest in the genus, with a head and body length of 85–100 mm, and a tail length of 40–55 mm.
The other subgenus contains the widespread New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
single species T. brasiliensis (subgenus Rhizomops) which ranges from the southern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the West Indies all the way to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. This species is noted for its massive maternity colonies in the United States, especially in the southwest where an estimated population of over 25 million (possibly as high as 50 million) existed in Eagle Creek Cave in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
in the 1960s.
Species list for genus:
- Tadarida aegyptiaca http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Tadarida_aegyptiaca.html
- Tadarida australis http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Tadarida_australis.html
- Tadarida brasiliensis (Now in subgenus Rhizomops) Brazilian Free-tailed Bat
- Tadarida fulminans
- Tadarida insignis
- Tadarida kuboriensis
- Tadarida latouchei
- Tadarida lobata
- Tadarida teniotis European Free-tailed Bat
- Tadarida ventralis
Resources
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/Tadarida.html#Tadarida