The European free-tailed bat occurs around the Mediterranean and in parts of southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. It catches flying insects over mountains and urban areas and roosts in rock crevices, caves, and bridges in both summer and winter.
It is a large, robust bat with a wingspan of about 40–45 cm, long broad ears, and velvety black-gray fur. The tail extends beyond the flight membrane.
It hunts moths, hawk moths, seasonal flies, lacewings, and beetles while flying. It roosts in cliff crevices, caves, and bridges in both summer and winter and is described as sedentary.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.