Chaerephon pumilus
little free-tailed bat

Chaerephon pumilus, commonly known as the little free-tailed bat, is found from Senegal to Somalia and South Africa. They are also found in Yemen and Madagascar. (Aspetberger, Brandsen, and Jacobs, 2004; Bouchard, 1998)

Chaerephon pumilus can be found in a variety of habitats, from the semi-arid regions of the African north to areas of cleared rainforest farther south. Specimens have been found widely distributed throughout savannah/woodland terrain of Zambia, Guinea, Sudan and Zimbabwe, as well as the forests of the Congo basin. In Cape Province, South Africa they may be found in the mountainous Cape Macchia Zone. Little free-tailed bats naturally roost in the hollows and crevices of trees and in the crowns of some types of palm trees, where large colonies can find safety. (Bouchard, 1998)

Chaerephon pumilus is a small species of bat. Most little free-tailed bats have a body that is covered with blackish brown fur, fading to pale tan or even white hairs on the ventral surface where the body meets the wings. However, much variation is present throughout their geographic range. Little free-tailed bats have rounded ears, which are over-sized for their heads. Average mass is 11.1 g, average length in observed specimens is 252 mm, and average wingspan is 255 mm. Males are slightly larger than females. Chaerephon pumilus is distinguishable from other members of its genus by its small size and the species’ lack of a lobe projecting between the inner bases of the ears. Males have a forehead crest that creates a recognizable silhouette even when in flight. (Aspetberger, Brandsen, and Jacobs, 2004; Bouchard, 1998; Kunz, 2006)

There is no information on lifespan in little free-tailed bats.

Little free-tailed bats are nocturnal, leaving their roosts at dusk to begin hunting. These bats hunt by themselves and return to their roosts after feeding. Little free-tailed bats often roost with another species of molossid, the larger Mops condylurus. Little free-tailed bats are very social and make a lot of noise before leaving the roost to hunt. Migration has not been reported in this species. (Aspetberger, Brandsen, and Jacobs, 2004; Bouchard, 1998)

Home Range

Home range sizes are not reported for little free-tailed bats.

Little free-tailed bats primarily use echolocation in navigating their environment, as well as in hunting for food. Echolocation patterns vary geographically. Echolocation calls of Chaerephon pumilus in the Amani Nature Reserve of Tanzania were of a lower frequency and had longer gaps between pulses than in individuals of the same species living in South Africa. It is possible that echolocation calls vary with habitat or prey types. Little free-tailed bats, like most bats, have monochromatic vision. Vision in used in a secondary capacity to echolocation. It has recently been noted that many bats have elevated sensitivity to ultraviolet light, which is most abundant at dawn and dusk. Tactile and chemical cues may also be used extensively in social communication. (Aspetberger, Brandsen, and Jacobs, 2004; Bouchard, 1998)

Juvenile little free-tailed bats have been know to have milk and remains of large cockroaches in their stomachs. Adults are purely insectivorous. They eat a wide variety of soft-bodied insects. Food sources remain relatively stable throughout the seasons, but the average size of prey is greatly increased during the rainy season. (Aspetberger, Brandsen, and Jacobs, 2004; Bouchard, 1998; Kunz, 2006)

Known predators of little free-tailed bats include bat-hawks (Macheiramphis alcinus), hobby falcons (Falco subbuteo), Wahlberg’s eagles (Hieraaetus wahlbergi), and African goshawks (Accipiter tachiro). These prey birds successfully capture between 1 and 5 bats per night. Chaerephon pumilus may have developed its erratic flight pattern as an anti-predator tactic. Their nocturnal activity and cryptic coloration also help to protect them from some predators. (Aspetberger, Brandsen, and Jacobs, 2004; Bouchard, 1998)

Little free-tailed bats are preyed on by many larger African birds and are predators of insect populations. Little free-tailed bats coexist peacefully in roosts with the larger mollosid, Mops condylurus. (Bouchard, 1998; Kunz, 2006; Vaughan, 1966)

All bats can be carriers of diseases, such as rabies. Large colonies that roost in buildings are considered a problem as their droppings can create quite a smell. (Aspetberger, Brandsen, and Jacobs, 2004)

Little free-tailed bats prey on insects, which help humans by limiting insect pests, such as agricultural pests or insect disease vectors. (Aspetberger, Brandsen, and Jacobs, 2004)

Little free-tailed bat populations are large, widespread, and do not seem to be rapidly declining. They are considered "least concern" by the IUCN.