Nyctinomops macrotis (Gray 1839)

D, K D., L, A M., M, B, B, R J. & A, L K., 2012, N C R 14 B S B S S T D S H S, Occasional Papers of the Museum 315, pp. 1-16 : 12

Nyctinomops macrotis (Gray 1839)

Big Free-tailed Bat

The big free-tailed bat, Nyctinomops macrotis , is uncommon and its distribution is poorly known in Texas ( Ammerman et al. 2012). The species seems to be a seasonal habitant of primarily rocky country in lowland and highland habitats of the Trans-Pecos region ( Schmidly 2004). The only report of winter activity within Texas is a single specimen collected in San Patricio County on 23 December 1959 ( Raun 1961). Specimens primarily are collected between March and November within the Chihuahuan Desert, Arizona / New Mexico Mountains, High Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Edwards Plateau, East Central Texas Plains, and Gulf Coastal Plains regions ( Ammerman et al. 2012). Three new counties, Colorado, Nueces, and Webb, can now be confirmed for the big free-tailed bat.

Colorado County.—A specimen was received on 1 December 2004 ( TTU 114506 TK 173006) . Colorado County occupies three ecological regions: the Blackland Prairies, East Central Texas Plains, and Western Gulf Coastal Plains .

Nueces County.— A specimen was received on 26 October 2010 ( TTU 114625 , TK 173125). Nueces County occupies the Western Gulf Coastal Plains ecoregion .

Webb County.— Two specimens were received. The first was a female ( TTU 113396 , TK 171008) re- ceived on 19 October 2007. The second ( TTU 113402 , TK 171014) was received on 2 December 2008; the sex of this specimen was not determined. Webb County is found within the Southern Texas Plains ecoregion .

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank the following individuals for their contribution in the preparation of bat specimens: Heath J. Garner, Faisal A. Anwarali Khan, Wes A. Brashear, Juan P. Carrera E., Robert C. Dowler, Rebecca A. Esquivel, Brandon A. Gross, John R. Harmon, Amanda M. Hicks, Samuel G. Howland, Howard M. Huynh, Kellie M. Knutson, Roxanne J. Larsen, Lizette Siles Mendoza, Heather L. Moore, Richard S. Nayak, Julie A. Parlos, Pablo Rodriguez Pacheco, Calvin S. Smiley, Candace Frerich, Tiara T. Smith, Cibele G. Sotero-Caio, Jackie Spinks, Heather E. Thomas, T. Marie Tipps, Anthony A. Tran, Amanda K. Godbee, Sainobu A. Jokomba, Benjamin Colburn, Rachel L. Sims, Kivia K. Santos, Jessica M. Quigley, Molly M. McDonough, Jonathon E. Fry, Matias Feijoo, Chris D. Dunn, Childere I. Akalonu, and Spencer S. Yen. We would like to thank the DSHS Rabies Identification Team, especially Andrea Musarra, Danielle Smith, Letha Zuckero , and La’Toya Bigelow, for preliminary identification and retention of specimens. We would also like to thank Lisa and Robert Bradley for providing comments on the manuscript.