---
title: "Black Mastiff Bat"
description: "Molossus rufus — Mammals. The black mastiff bat (Molossus rufus) is a bat species."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/black-mastiff-bat
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Black Mastiff Bat

> Molossus rufus — Mammals. The black mastiff bat (Molossus rufus) is a bat species.

- Scientific name: *Molossus rufus*
- Category: `mammals` (Mammals)
- Habitats: unknown
- iNaturalist observations: 125
- Wikidata: [Q1830633](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1830633)
- iNaturalist taxon: [74643](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/74643)

## Names

- en: Black Mastiff Bat
- de: Rote Samtfledermaus
- es: Murciélago mastín negro
- fr: Grand Molosse
- nl: Zwarte fluweelvleermuis
- pl: Molos czarny

## Countries with the most observations

BR (14), GF (5), HN (5), TT (4)

## Summary

The black mastiff bat (Molossus rufus) is a bat species. It ranges from the northern region of South America (excluding Chile), most of Central America (excluding Belize) and parts of southern Mexico.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_mastiff_bat

## Photo

![Black Mastiff Bat](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/black-mastiff-bat/medium.jpg)

Photo: steve b · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/194446235

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/black-mastiff-bat?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).