Slit-Faced Bats: Nycteridae

Slit-faced bats are found throughout most of Africa, Southeast Asia, and Madagascar. Most species are found in Africa.

Some species of slit-faced bats live in woodland savanna or dry country, and others live in rainforests in Africa or in Southeast Asia.

A slit-faced bat's diet depends upon the species. Most species of these bats feed primarily on a variety of arthropods (animals that have jointed bodies and limbs), such as moths, butterflies, beetles, crickets, centipedes, scorpions, and spiders. Some bats, the larger slit-faced bats, will also eat small vertebrates (animals with a backbone), such as frogs, birds, fish, other bats, and mice.

The name Nycteris comes from the Greek word nykteros, meaning nocturnal.

There is no known special relationship between slit-faced bats and people.

The IUCN lists the Javan slit-faced bat and the Ja slit-faced bat as Vulnerable, facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Three other species are listed as Near Threatened, not currently threatened, but may become so.