Rhinopomatidae

Mouse-tailed bats are small, insectivorous microbats of the family Rhinopomatidae, comprising three to six species in the genus Rhinopoma. They inhabit arid and semi-arid regions across the Old World, from North Africa to Southeast Asia, roosting in caves, houses, and even Egyptian pyramids. Adult bats have a body length of 5 to 6 cm and weigh between 6 and 14 g.

These bats are characterized by slim limbs, long hairless tails, and soft, short sand-colored fur. They have a simple nose leaf, large ears with a developed tragus, and prominent eyes. Living in colonies, they typically gather in groups of thousands, often in mixed-gender roosts. They reproduce once or twice a year, usually having one or two young.

Rhinopomatidae are adapted to low-humidity, high-temperature environments, using crevices and structures for shelter. While they do not truly hibernate, they can become torpid during winter and estivate during food shortages. Their hunting mainly targets small insects, such as beetles, at flight altitudes of 5 to 10 meters.