Molossus (bat)


Molossus is a genus of bats. The genus contains ten species with a New World distribution from Mexico in the north to northern Argentina at its most southerly limit. Four of these species have distributions that include various islands in the West Indies such as Puerto Rico or Trinidad.
The genus belongs to a group commonly referred to as free-tailed bats. Its name is from the ancient Molossus breed of shepherd dog.

Systematics

The following species are recognised:Molossus alvareziMolossus aztecus Saussure, 1860Molossus bondaeMolossus coibensis Allen, 1904Molossus currentium Thomas, 1901Molossus molossus Molossus pretiosus Miller, 1902Molossus rufus E. Geoffroy, 1805