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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Least Concern |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
| Body Length: | |
| Tail Length: | |
| Shoulder Height: | |
| Weight: | |
| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
| Litter Size: | |
| Gestation Period: | |
Habitat:
Mormoops megalophylla occurs in specialized roosts in deep caves of karstic regions, this habitat is very rare (J. Molinari, pers. comm.). Also found in hot caves (A. Rodríguez-Durán, pers. comm.). A minimum population is required to maintain the temperature of the cave at around 40 C, once the minimum threshold of individuals required to maintain the temperature. If the temperature is reduced, offspring do not survive (J. Molinari pers. comm.). In Ecuador it occurs in caves near cloud forests, at around 2700 m in the Andes (Boada et al. 2003).
This bat feeds on insects, chiefly moths, its prey usually has body lengths of 5 to 6 mm. It often forages over water, on forest edges, gaps, or open spaces. It roosts in deep caves, where it hangs singly, separated from their neighbors, in colonies of up to several thousand, but usually of only a few individuals. In north Amerca, large concentrations are found in caves in October and November, but disappear by January - such movements are not always seasonal. Females produce one young per year, between April to June. Nursing females roost separately for males and non-reproductive females (Ceballos and Galindo 1984, Emmons and Feer 1997, Reid 2009, Rezsutek and Cameron 1993, Villa-R. 1966).
This bat feeds on insects, chiefly moths, its prey usually has body lengths of 5 to 6 mm. It often forages over water, on forest edges, gaps, or open spaces. It roosts in deep caves, where it hangs singly, separated from their neighbors, in colonies of up to several thousand, but usually of only a few individuals. In north Amerca, large concentrations are found in caves in October and November, but disappear by January - such movements are not always seasonal. Females produce one young per year, between April to June. Nursing females roost separately for males and non-reproductive females (Ceballos and Galindo 1984, Emmons and Feer 1997, Reid 2009, Rezsutek and Cameron 1993, Villa-R. 1966).
Range:
This species is found throughout south Texas, south Arizona (USA), and Baja California (Mexico) south to northwest Peru and north Venezuela, Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles), it is also found on Trinidad and Margarita Island, Venezuela (Simmons 2005). It is discontinuous throughout its range in localized colonies (J. Molinari pers. comm.). As a species complex was previously much more widespread, local extinctions have occurred throughout most of its range (L. Davalos pers. comm.). Its area of occupancy is relatively small (J. Molinari pers. comm.).
Conservation:
Conservation and protection of cave habitat is highly recommended, although this will not guarantee protection of the species (L. Davalos pers. comm.). Through its wide geographic distribution it is found in several protected areas of different levels.