By Matthew Steinway
Geographic Range
Mormoops megalophylla, the ghost-faced bat, is found as far north as southern Arizona and Texas. It is present throughout most of Mexico and populations continue south to northwestern Peru and northern Venezuela (Rezsutek & Cameron, 1993).
Biogeographic Regions:
nearctic 
(native ); neotropical (native ).
Habitat
Ghost-faced bats are typically found near desert shrub in caves, tunnels, mine shafts, and occasionally old buildings, especially where temperature and humidity are high (Schober & Grimmberger, 1997).
Terrestrial Biomes:
desert or dune .
Physical Description
(0.46 to 0.67 oz; avg. 0.56 oz)
Mormoops megalophylla is a medium sized, reddish-brown to dark brown bat. They have large, rounded ears which join across the
forehead. Leaf-like appendages protrude from the chin. The tail projects dorsally from the uropatagium. No sexual dimorphism is noted; however, the basal metabolic rate is lower for females (Schmidly, 1991; The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition, 1994).
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
There is a limited amount of data on the reproductive habits of ghost-faced bats. It is believed that mating begins in late December. One offspring is produced per year and is born between late May and early June. Lactating females have been found from
mid June until mid August (Schmidly, 1991).
Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .
Behavior
Ghost-faced bats roost during daylight in large colonies (up to 500,000), however, they do not form compact clusters typical of other species. An individual tends to roost about 15 centimeters away from other members of the colony.
Mormoops megalophylla emerge from caves in the evening to hunt above the ground for large moths and insects. They are strong, fast fliers and frequently hunt over standing water.
It is believed that ghost-faced bats participate in a seasonal migration. They have been found to completely abandon one cave in Texas from April until August (Rezsutek & Cameron, 1993; Schober & Grimmberger, 1997; The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition, 1994).
Key behaviors:
motile .
Food Habits
Not much is known about the food habits of the ghost-faced bat.
Large-bodied moths and other large insects have been found in the stomachs and intestines of individuals (Rezsutek & Cameron, 1993; Schmidly, 1991).
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
None known.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Large amounts of guano (feces) are produced by the large populations in Mexico. Guano is commonly used by locals as a fertilizer (/Mormoops megalophylla/ webpage).
Ghost-faced bats also reduce the number of insect pests present in the areas in which they forage.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Lower Risk - Least Concern.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
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Other Comments
Mormoops megalophylla have been found to roost in old buildings. Four specimen were discovered at Edinburg Junior High School in Edinburg, Texas. They were seen hanging from the rough plaster ceiling in a hallway. They supposedly entered the building at night through an open window (The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition).
Contributors
Matthew Steinway (author), University of Michigan.
Phil Myers (editor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.
