Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat vs Coast Barnyard Grass

Nyctinomops laticaudatus compared with Echinochloa walteri

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat	Coast Barnyard Grass
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Liliopsida (Monocots)
Order	Chiroptera (Bats)	Poales (Grasses)
Family	Molossidae	Poaceae (Grass Family)
Genus	Nyctinomops	Echinochloa
Species	Nyctinomops laticaudatus	Echinochloa walteri

Conservation Status

Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat

LC — Least Concern

Coast Barnyard Grass

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat	Coast Barnyard Grass
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

Coast Barnyard Grass

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

Range

Distributed across Brazil and Canada.

Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat

The Broad-eared Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops laticaudatus) is a species in the genus Nyctinomops. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Coast Barnyard Grass

Coast barnyard grass (Echinochloa walteri) is a robust annual grass in the family Poaceae, native to wetlands and coastal marshes of eastern North America, from southern Canada south through the United States. It grows in tidal fresh marshes, brackish marshes, pond margins, wet roadsides, and floodplain habitats, where it can form dense stands exceeding 2 metres in height. The genus Echinochloa is widespread globally and includes several species of agricultural importance, both as crops and weeds. Coast barnyard grass is distinguished by its long, bristle-tipped spikelets and preference for wetland edges. It produces abundant seeds that are consumed by waterfowl including ducks, rails, and sparrows, making stands of this species ecologically valuable in coastal wetland systems. The species tolerates seasonal flooding, fluctuating salinity, and disturbed conditions. Its IUCN status is Least Concern, reflecting its broad distribution across eastern North America and its capacity to colonise disturbed wetland habitats rapidly. While not an invasive species outside its native range, it is sometimes managed in wetland restoration projects to prevent monoculture dominance.