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Description: This is Florida's largest bat.
Its fur ranges in color from dark gray to brownish-gray. As with other
bats in the family Molossidae its tail extends well beyond a short tail
membrane. It has large broad ears that slant forward over the eyes from
which it gets the common name of "bonneted bat."
Wingspan: 19-21 inches
Body length: 3.3-4.3 inches
Weight: 1.2-1.7 ounces
Florida roosting preferences: Colonial.
Roosts in cliff crevices, tree cavities and buildings. In 2003 a small
colony was found roosting in a bat house in Fort Myers.
Food preferences: Insectivorous. Known to
feed on beetles, flies and true bugs.
Reproduction: Females give birth to a single
pup, but may have more than one reproductive cycle per year. Pups are
born during the summer from June through September.
Florida status: Rare. Classified as
Endangered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Florida range: Southern portion of Florida,
excluding the Florida Keys
Note: Previously known as Wagner's mastiff
bat (Eumops glaucinus floridanus) but was reclassified in 2004 as a
separate species unique to Florida.
Copyright Florida Bat Conservancy 2005
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