See text The genus Tadarida has 9 or more species of free-tailed bats divided into two subgenera,[1] with the first of these containing seven species spread across the Old World (including southern Europe and North Africa, large parts of southern Asia, and India right across to Japan).

The relatively well-known species T. teniotis, which occurs in southern Europe and North Africa, the Middle East, and across southern Asia to Japan, is known to fly often during the late afternoon, where it hawks for insects alongside swifts (Apodidae), swallows, and martins (Hirundinidae).

The closest relative of Tadarida aegyptiaca of Africa and southwest Asia is Chaerephon jobimena of Madagascar.

[2] The genus name Tadarida is attributed to the naturalist Constantine Samuel Rafinesque, who gave no clues to its etymology.

Indeed, Rafinesque, being in Palermo, Sicily, during its studies, probably took this name from Sicilian, where the bat is called taḍḍarita,[5][6] from Greek λαχταρίδα (lachtarida) [7] Species list for genus: