It was discovered in 1818 by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, and is characterized by an all-white ventral surface, grizzled dorsal coloration, and conical face.

It has exceptionally good eyesight, a trait which is common in old world bats and enables it to find roosting locations.

Mauritian tomb bats help control pest populations, including insects that carry human diseases.

Not prone to large-scale roosting, T. mauritianus is most often spotted on the sides of buildings or on the trunks of trees in groups of around five individuals.

[2] The Egyptian tomb bat (T. perforatus) is the same size as its Mauritian cousin but does not have the completely white belly that the latter possess.

Synonyms for the Mauritian tomb bat include Taphozous mauritianus, T. leucopterus, T. dobsoni, and T. maritianus var.

The dorsal surface of T. mauritianus is a mottled color consisting of several shades of brown, gray, and white, which creates a grizzled "salt and pepper" appearance.

One of the larger species in the Microchiroptera suborder, fully grown adults weigh anywhere from 25 to 36 grams (0.88 to 1.27 oz), with its forearm measuring 58 to 64 millimetres (2.3 to 2.5 in).

This gland releases secretions that help males mark their territories and attract females during the mating season.

In areas such as Nigeria and Mozambique, the sac is absent in females, in West Africa it is reduced to a vestigial pouch, and in the Sudan it is fully present in both sexes, just more developed in males.

[7] The Mauritian tomb bat is widely distributed from the middle to the southern regions of Africa, as well as on many of the surrounding islands.

They are found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Réunion, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Special kidney adaptations that aid in water conservation allow the Mauritian tomb bat to survive in the often dry, semi-arid regions of countries such as the Sudan and Chad.

[7] Mauritian tomb bats are occasionally found in grassland biomes[8] as well as in semi-arid and tropical regions.

The bats prefer open, moist savanna with plenty of maneuvering room with close proximity roosting sights.

T. mauritianus avoids the thicker parts of tropical forests due to its somewhat limited turning maneuverability.

The tomb bat prefers sites where there is overhead shelter, but are situated in exposed positions for easier take off.

[11] Unlike some species of bats, they do not roost close together in tight packs; instead they are found spaced out loosely, with the exception of a mother and her offspring.

There are places where groups of at least a hundred bats have been found, one example being the Shai Hills Resource Reserve in Ghana.

This advanced eyesight plays a large role in finding a suitable roost for the day and detecting predators.

The echolocation in T. mauritianus is unique in that their frequency pulses are emitted in patterns of twos and threes separated by long intervals of silence.

Tomb bats of the Southern African subregion often produce two pups: one in February or March and another in October through December.

The time spent with the mother allows the young to observe hunting behavior as well as learn other skills necessary for survival as an adult.