Mouse tails

Small bats : body length 5-9 cm, weight 6-14 g; tail length is approximately equal to body length, which is uncharacteristic for bats. The tail is thin, enclosed in a very narrow inter-femoral membrane only at the base. Fat is often deposited at the base of the tail. Large ears are connected by a leathery fold along the top of the head; the tragus is small. On the muzzle, a leathery outgrowth in the form of a roller; the sides of the muzzle are swollen, the nasal bones of the skull are dilated laterally. The nostrils are equipped with valves that protect the nasopharynx from dust and sand in an arid climate. The II finger of the wing has two bone phalanges. Hair color is usually grayish brown or dark brown with a lighter belly. The muzzle, sacrum and back of the abdomen are devoid of hair. Teeth 28.

Distributed in North and West Africa , Western Asia . They live in desert and semi-desert treeless areas, therefore they live in caves, crevices of rocks, wells, residential buildings, often gathering in large colonies. Also found individually and in groups of 4-10 individuals. For most of the year, males and females live separately. During breeches often hang not only head down, but also head up, clinging to the first fingers of the forelimbs. They feed mainly on insects. Propagate once a year; breeding period depends on part of the range. So, in Egypt and Sudan, pregnant females are found mainly in March, and young animals in June-July.

Fossilized mouse tails are unknown. They are considered the most primitive family of modern bats .

• Laurel Hester & Phil Myers. Rhinopomatidae on the Animal Diversity Web . AnimalDiversity.ummz.umich.edu. Date of treatment January 10, 2011. Archived February 12, 2012.
• Family: Rhinopomatidae (neopr.) . Biodiversity.Mongabay.com. Date of treatment January 10, 2011. Archived February 12, 2012.