The reproductive pattern of the female Angolan free-tailed bat Mops condylurus (A. Smith, 1933) was investigated at two localities in Mpumalanga. Female Angolan free-tailed bats displayed a seasonal bimodally polyoestrous reproductive pattern. Parturition in December was followed closely by a post-partum oestrus. Ovarian follicle and endometrium cycles also closely followed the breeding season. The reproductive tract displayed complete dextral dominance with the right ovary and uterus being functionally dominant. Luteal activity was maintained throughout pregnancy and healthy corpora lutea were observed until late in pregnancy. Shedding of the zona pellucida occurred in the oviduct in the region of the ampulla–isthmus junction. The embryo entered the uterus as a morula, where it was transformed into a unilaminar, free-lying blastocyst. A unique feature of the pre-implantation uterus was the formation of a distinct decidua at the implantation site on the mesometrial side. Implantation in the Angolan free-tailed bat was centric and superficial. First attachment of the trophoblast to the endometrium was mesometrial. The formation of a pre-placental pad of trophoblast cells was also initiated on the mesometrial side, while orientation of the embryonic disc was anti-mesometrial. Placental development occurred in the abembryonic hemisphere. Proliferation of the trophoblast over the embryonic hemisphere was slow and a bilaminar arrangement of the trophoblast was not observed in this region until after the primitive streak stage.

The ability of two species of African insectivorous bats (Angola free-tailed Mops condylurus and little free-tailed Chaerephon pumilus) to distinguish between males and females and roostmates from strangers in scent-choice experiments was tested. Both sexes of M. condylurus and male C. pumilus discriminated between sexes based on odours collected from the interaural and muzzle glandular areas, whereas female C. pumilus did not show any preference in either trials. Female M. condylurus from intermediate sized colonies (c. 200–600 individuals) distinguished female roostmates from strangers. There is some indication that roostmate recognition may vary inversely with the colony size of the test-subject suggesting that recognition is individually based, but further studies are necessary to determine if this is so. Histological work revealed that the interaural and muzzle area contain sebaceous glands and that the quantity of the glandular tissue is sexually dimorphic in both species for the interaural area, with males having more tissue, but not for the muzzle area. The presence of osmetrichia using SEM was also observed in the interaural area of both sexes of M. condylurus and in male C. pumilus. Their presence and association with sebaceous glands, as well as the results of the scent-choice experiments are indirect evidences of use of chemical signals, possibly pheromones, by these bats.