# List of emballonurids

Emballonuridae is one of the twenty families of bats in the mammalian order Chiroptera and part of the microbat suborder. Members of this family are called emballonurids, and include sheath-tailed bats, sac-winged bats, and tomb bats. They are found in all continents besides Europe and Antarctica, primarily in forests and caves, though some species can also be found in shrublands, savannas, rocky areas, or deserts. They range in size from the Amazonian sac-winged bat, at 3 cm (1 in) plus a 1 cm (0.4 in) tail, to the Pel's pouched bat, at 14 cm (6 in) plus a 4 cm (2 in) tail. Like all bats, emballonurids are capable of true and sustained flight, and have forearm lengths ranging from 3 cm (1 in) to 10 cm (4 in). They are all insectivorous and eat a variety of insects and spiders, and occasionally fruit. Almost no emballonurid have population estimates, though three species—the Pacific sheath-tailed bat, Antioquian sac-winged bat, and Hildegarde's tomb bat—are categorized as endangered species, and one species—the Seychelles sheath-tailed bat—is categorized as critically endangered with a population as low as 50.
The 54 extant species of Emballonuridae are divided between two subfamilies: Emballonurinae and Taphozoinae. Emballonurinae contains 36 species in 12 genera, and Taphozoinae contains 18 species in 2 genera. A few extinct prehistoric emballonurid species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.

## Conventions

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the emballonurid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted. Population figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

## Classification

The family Emballonuridae consists of two subfamilies: Emballonurinae, containing 36 species divided into 12 genera, and Taphozoinae, which contains 18 species in 2 genera.
Family Emballonuridae
* Subfamily Emballonurinae
** Genus Balantiopteryx (sac-winged bats): three species
** Genus Centronycteris (shaggy bats): two species
** Genus Coleura (sheath-tailed bats): three species
** Genus Cormura (chestnut sac-winged bat): one species
** Genus Cyttarops (short-eared bat): one species
** Genus Diclidurus (ghost bats): four species
** Genus Emballonura (sheath-tailed bats): eight species
** Genus Mosia (dark sheath-tailed bat): one species
** Genus Paremballonura (false sheath-tailed bats): two species
** Genus Peropteryx (dog-like bats): five species
** Genus Rhynchonycteris (proboscis bat): one species
** Genus Saccopteryx (sac-winged bats): five species
* Subfamily Taphozoinae
** Genus Saccolaimus (pouched bats): four species
** Genus Taphozous (tomb bats): fourteen species

## Emballonurids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.

### Subfamily Emballonurinae

Genus Balantiopteryx – Peters, 1867 – three species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Ecuadorian sac-winged bat | B. infusca (Thomas, 1897) | Colombia and Ecuador | Size: 3–5 cm (1–2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | VU  Unknown |
| Gray sac-winged bat | B. plicata Peters, 1867 Two subspecies B. p. pallida B. p. plicata | Mexico and Central America | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and shrubland | LC  Unknown |
| Thomas's sac-winged bat | B. io Thomas, 1904 | Mexico and Central America | Size: 3–5 cm (1–2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Caves and forest | VU  Unknown |
Genus Centronycteris – Gray, 1838 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Shaggy bat | C. maximiliani J. B. Fischer, 1829 | Northern and eastern South America | Size: 4–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | LC  Unknown |
| Thomas's shaggy bat | C. centralis Thomas, 1912 | Mexico, Central America, and northern South America | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | LC  Unknown |
Genus Coleura – Peters, 1867 – three species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| African sheath-tailed bat | C. afra (Peters, 1852) | Scattered Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Desert, caves, shrubland, savanna, and forest | LC  Unknown |
| Madagascar sheath-tailed bat | C. kibomalandy Goodman, Puechmaille, Friedli-Weyeneth, Gerlach, Ruedi, Schoeman, Stanley, & Teeling, 2012 | Madagascar | Size: 6–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | DD  Unknown |
| Seychelles sheath-tailed bat | C. seychellensis (Peters, 1868) Two subspecies C. s. seychellensis C. s. silhouettae | Seychelles | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in), plus unknown tail 4–6 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest, inland wetlands, and caves | CR  50–100 |
Genus Cormura – Peters, 1867 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Chestnut sac-winged bat | C. brevirostris (Wagner, 1843) | Central America and northern South America | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | LC  Unknown |
Genus Cyttarops – Thomas, 1913 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Short-eared bat | C. alecto Thomas, 1913 | Central America and northern South America | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | LC  Unknown |
Genus Diclidurus – Wied-Neuwied, 1820 – four species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Greater ghost bat | D. ingens Hernandez-Camacho, 1955 | Northern South America | Size: About 8 cm (3 in), plus about 2 cm (1 in) tail 6–8 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | DD  Unknown |
| Isabelle's ghost bat | D. isabellus Thomas, 1920 | Northern South America | Size: About 7 cm (3 in), plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail about 5 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | LC  Unknown |
| Lesser ghost bat | D. scutatus Peters, 1869 | Northern South America | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 5–6 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | LC  Unknown |
| Northern ghost bat | D. albus Wied-Neuwied, 1820 Two subspecies D. a. albus D. a. virgo | Mexico, Central America, and South America | Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in), plus 1–8 cm (0.4–3.1 in) tail 6–7 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | LC  Unknown |
Genus Emballonura – Temminck, 1838 – eight species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Beccari's sheath-tailed bat | E. beccarii Peters & Doria, 1881 Three subspecies E. b. beccarii E. b. clavium E. b. meeki | Indonesia and Papua New Guinea | Size: 3–5 cm (1–2 in), plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | LC  Unknown |
| Greater sheath-tailed bat | E. furax Thomas, 1911 | Indonesia and Papua New Guinea | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | LC  Unknown |
| Large-eared sheath-tailed bat | E. dianae Hill, 1956 Three subspecies E. d. dianae E. d. fruhstorferi E. d. rickwoodi | Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands | Size: 4–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | LC  Unknown |
| Lesser sheath-tailed bat | E. monticola Temminck, 1838 | Southeastern Asia | Size: 4–5 cm (2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest, rocky areas, and caves | LC  Unknown |
| Pacific sheath-tailed bat | E. semicaudata Peale, 1848 Four subspecies E. s. palauensis E. s. rotensis E. s. semicaudata E. s. sulcata | Polynesia and Micronesia | Size: 4–5 cm (2 in), plus unknown tail 4–5 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest, rocky areas, and caves | EN  Unknown |
| Raffray's sheath-tailed bat | E. raffrayana Dobson, 1879 Three subspecies E. r. cor E. r. raffrayana E. r. stresemanni | Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands | Size: 3–6 cm (1–2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Caves and forest | LC  Unknown |
| Seri's sheath-tailed bat | E. serii Flannery, 1994 | Indonesia and Papua New Guinea | Size: 4–7 cm (2–3 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | VU  Unknown |
| Small Asian sheath-tailed bat | E. alecto (Eydoux & Gervais, 1836) Four subspecies E. a. alecto E. a. anambensis E. a. palawanensis E. a. rivalis | Borneo, Sulawesi, and the Philippines | Size: 4–5 cm (2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | LC  Unknown |
Genus Mosia – Gray, 1843 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Dark sheath-tailed bat | M. nigrescens Gray, 1843 Three subspecies M. n. nigrescens M. n. papuana M. n. solomonis | Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands | Size: 3–5 cm (1–2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest, rocky areas, and caves | LC  Unknown |
Genus Paremballonura – Goodman, Puechmaille, Friedli-Weyeneth, Gerlach, Ruedi, Schoeman, Stanley, & Teeling, 2012 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Peters's sheath-tailed bat | P. atrata Peters, 1874 | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 4–5 cm (2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | LC  Unknown |
| Western sheath-tailed bat | P. tiavato (Goodman, Cardiff, Ranivo, Russell, & Yoder, 2006) | Western Madagascar | Size: 4–5 cm (2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | LC  Unknown |
Genus Peropteryx – Peters, 1867 – five species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Greater dog-like bat | P. kappleri Peters, 1867 Two subspecies P. k. intermedia P. k. kappleri | Mexico, Central America, and South America | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | LC  Unknown |
| Lesser dog-like bat | P. macrotis Wagner, 1843 | Mexico, Central America, and South America | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and shrubland | LC  Unknown |
| Pale-winged dog-like bat | P. pallidoptera Lim, Engstrom, Reid, Simmons, Voss, & Fleck, 2010 | Northwestern South America | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | DD  Unknown |
| Trinidad dog-like bat | P. trinitatis Miller, 1899 Two subspecies P. t. phaea P. t. trinitatis | Northeastern South America | Size: 4–5 cm (2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | DD  Unknown |
| White-winged dog-like bat | P. leucoptera Peters, 1867 Two subspecies P. l. cyclops P. l. leucoptera | Northern South America | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 4–6 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | LC  Unknown |
Genus Rhynchonycteris – Peters, 1867 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Proboscis bat | R. naso (Wied-Neuwied, 1820) | Mexico, Central America, and South America | Size: 3–5 cm (1–2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | LC  Unknown |
Genus Saccopteryx – Illiger, 1811 – five species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Amazonian sac-winged bat | S. gymnura Thomas, 1901 | Northern South America | Size: 3–4 cm (1–2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | DD  Unknown |
| Antioquian sac-winged bat | S. antioquensis Muñoz & Cuartas, 2001 | Colombia | Size: 4–5 cm (2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | EN  Unknown |
| Frosted sac-winged bat | S. canescens Thomas, 1901 Two subspecies S. c. canescens S. c. pumila | Northern South America | Size: 3–5 cm (1–2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–4 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | LC  Unknown |
| Greater sac-winged bat | S. bilineata (Temminck, 1838) | Mexico, Central America, and South America | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in), plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail 4–5 cm (2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | LC  Unknown |
| Lesser sac-winged bat | S. leptura Schreber, 1774 | Mexico, Central America, and South America | Size: 3–6 cm (1–2 in), plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail 3–5 cm (1–2 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | LC  Unknown |

### Subfamily Taphozoinae

Genus Saccolaimus – Temminck, 1838 – four species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Naked-rumped pouched bat | S. saccolaimus Temminck, 1838 Five subspecies S. s. affinis S. s. crassus S. s. nudicluniatus S. s. pluto S. s. saccolaimus | Southern and southeastern Asia and northern Australia | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 6–8 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest, savanna, and caves | LC  Unknown |
| Papuan sheath-tailed bat | S. mixtus Troughton, 1925 | Southern New Guinea and northern Australia | Size: 7–8 cm (3 in), plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail 6–7 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest, savanna, and caves | NT  Unknown |
| Pel's pouched bat | S. peli Temminck, 1853 | Western and central Africa | Size: 11–14 cm (4–6 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 8–10 cm (3–4 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest | LC  Unknown |
| Yellow-bellied sheath-tailed bat | S. flaviventris Peters, 1867 | Australia and Papua New Guinea | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 7–9 cm (3–4 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland | LC  Unknown |
Genus Taphozous – Geoffroy, 1818 – fourteen species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Arnhem sheath-tailed bat | T. kapalgensis McKean & Friend, 1979 | Northwestern Australia | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest, savanna, and grassland | LC  Unknown |
| Black-bearded tomb bat | T. melanopogon Temminck, 1841 Five subspecies T. m. bicolor T. m. cavaticus T. m. fretensis T. m. melanopogon T. m. phillipinensis | Southern and southeastern Asia | Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in), plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail 6–7 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and caves | LC  Unknown |
| Coastal sheath-tailed bat | T. australis Gould, 1854 | Northern Australia | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail 6–7 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest, shrubland, caves, and coastal marine | NT  9,000–10,000 |
| Common sheath-tailed bat | T. georgianus Thomas, 1915 | Northern and northwestern Australia | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 6–8 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Savanna, rocky areas, and caves | LC  Unknown |
| Egyptian tomb bat | T. perforatus Geoffroy, 1818 Four subspecies T. p. haedinus T. p. perforatus T. p. senegalensis T. p. sudani | Scattered Africa and western and southern Asia | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Savanna and inland wetlands | LC  Unknown |
| Hamilton's tomb bat | T. hamiltoni Thomas, 1920 | Central Africa | Size: 8–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 6–8 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Savanna and unknown | DD  Unknown |
| Hildegarde's tomb bat | T. hildegardeae Thomas, 1909 | Kenya and Tanzania | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail 6–7 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | EN  Unknown |
| Hill's sheath-tailed bat | T. hilli Kitchener, 1980 | Australia | Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in), plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 6–8 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland, rocky areas, caves, and desert | LC  Unknown |
| Indonesian tomb bat | T. achates Thomas, 1915 Two subspecies T. a. achates T. a. minor | Indonesia | Size: 7–8 cm (3 in), plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | DD  Unknown |
| Long-winged tomb bat | T. longimanus Hardwicke, 1825 Four subspecies T. l. albipinnis T. l. kampenii T. l. leucopleurus T. l. longimanus | Southern and southeastern Asia | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest, savanna, rocky areas, and caves | LC  Unknown |
| Mauritian tomb bat | T. mauritianus Geoffroy, 1818 | Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail 5–7 cm (2–3 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and rocky areas | LC  Unknown |
| Naked-rumped tomb bat | T. nudiventris Cretzschmar, 1830 Five subspecies T. n. kachhensis T. n. magnus T. n. nudaster T. n. nudiventris T. n. zayidi | Scattered Africa and western and southern Asia | Size: 8–11 cm (3–4 in), plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail 7–8 cm (3 in) forearm length Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland, inland wetlands, caves, and desert | LC  Unknown |
| Theobald's tomb bat | T. theobaldi Dobson, 1872 Two subspecies T. t. secatus T. t. theobaldi | Southern and southeastern Asia | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in), plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail 7–8 cm (3 in) forearm length Habitat: Forest and caves | LC  Unknown |
| Troughton's sheath-tailed bat | T. troughtoni Tate, 1952 | Northeastern Australia | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in), plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail 7–8 cm (3 in) forearm length Habitat: Savanna, rocky areas, and caves | LC  Unknown |