This is one of the free-tailed bats with the widest worldwide distributions, occurring from West Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and, in isolation, Madagascar. It flies in open spaces at heights of up to 40 m, with a fast but poorly manoeuvrable flight typical of molossids adapted to hunting in open skies.
A medium-sized bat with broad ears joined across the forehead by a hairy membrane, a distinctive feature of the genus. The fur shows two colour morphs, dark and reddish. A long tail extends clearly beyond the interfemoral membrane. It is distinguished from other Mops in the region by this highly developed interaural membrane.
No sufficiently reliable published data exist for the echolocation call frequency of the Midas Free-tailed Bat, so no concrete figure is given here. Roosts provide the most accessible tracks and signs: it occupies tree cavities, rock crevices and buildings, leaving elongated dark guano accumulated beneath the perch.
Dry and moist savanna, open woodland and hot desert, from West Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, and also Madagascar.
Nocturnal flying insects, caught in high, fast flight in open spaces.
Nocturnal, with the fast, poorly manoeuvrable flight typical of molossids, in open skies at heights of up to 40 m.
The Midas Free-tailed Bat maintains a large, stable population across most of its range, with no evidence of an overall decline.
No widespread threats identified.
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