Habitat
This species primarily inhabits arid and semi-arid regions of East Africa, including savannas, rocky hills, and desert fringes. They roost in caves, rock crevices, and sometimes abandoned buildings, preferring areas with access to open spaces for foraging.
Diet
Macinnes's mouse-tailed bat feeds mainly on insects such as moths, beetles, and flies, which it catches in mid-air during nighttime flights. It uses echolocation to hunt, typically foraging over open areas near their roosts, and may consume several grams of insects per night.
Behavior
These bats are nocturnal and form colonies in roosts, with individuals emerging at dusk to forage individually or in loose groups. They exhibit territorial behavior around roosting sites but are generally social within colonies, using echolocation for navigation and communication. Macinnes's mouse-tailed bats are agile fliers, often performing acrobatic maneuvers to catch prey.
Conservation Status
IUCN status is Least Concern, with a stable population trend, though threats include habitat loss from agriculture and mining in East Africa.