Icaronycteris
Temporal range:
Fossil specimen of I. index in the ROM
Fossil specimen of I. gunnelli
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Icaronycteridae
Genus: Icaronycteris
Jepsen 1966
Species

Icaronycteris is an extinct genus of microchiropteran (echolocating) bat that lived in the early Eocene, approximately 52.2 million years ago, making it the earliest known definitive bat.[1] Four exceptionally preserved specimens, among the best preserved bat fossils, are known from the Green River Formation of North America.[1] The best known species is I. index.[2] Fragmentary material from France has also been tentatively placed within Icaronycteris as the second species I. menui.[3] I. sigei is based on well-preserved fragments of dentaries and lower teeth found in Western India.[4] In 2023, the species I. gunnelli also from the Green River Formation was distinguished from I. index, and I. menui and I. sigei were proposed to be removed from the genus due to them not being closely related.[5]

Description

Restoration of I. index

Icaronycteris[6] measured about 14 centimetres (5.5 in) long and had a wingspan of 37 centimetres (15 in). It closely resembled modern bats, but had some primitive traits. The tail was much longer and not connected to the hind legs with a skin membrane, the first wing finger bore a claw and the body was more flexible. Similarly, it had a full set of relatively unspecialised teeth, similar to those of a modern shrew. Its anatomy suggests that, like modern bats, Icaronycteris slept while hanging upside down, holding onto a tree branch or stone ridge with its hind legs.[7]

Phylogeny

According to Simmons & Geisler 1998,[8] Icaronycteris is the first genus, followed by Archaeonycteris, Hassianycetris, and Palaeochiropteryx, in a series leading to extant microchiropteran bats.[9]

Rietbergen et al. 2023 found Onychonycteris to be sister to the North American species of Icaronycteris.

            
             

Megachiroptera

             
             

Icaronycteris

             
             

Archaeonycteris

             
             
             

Palaeochiropteryx

             

Microchiroptera (Echolocating bats)

[10]

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Gunnell & Simmons 2005, Fossil Bats, p. 214
  2. Jepsen 1966
  3. Simmons & Geisler 1998, p. 40
  4. Smith et al. 2007, Abstract
  5. Rietbergen et al. 2023
  6. The name relates the mythic flight of Icarus to Nycteris, the genus of "hollow-faced bats".
  7. Palmer 1999, p. 211
  8. Simmons & Geisler 1998, Abstract
  9. Simmons & Conway 1998, Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships
  10. Simmons & Conway 1998

Sources

Further reading

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