Australonycteris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Australonycteris |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Australonycteris
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| Species: |
clarkae
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Australonycteris was an extinct type of bat. It is known from only one species, Australonycteris clarkae. Scientists found its fossil remains in south-eastern Queensland, Australia. These fossils are very old, from the early Eocene period, about 54.6 million years ago! This makes Australonycteris the oldest bat found in the Southern Hemisphere. It's also one of the oldest bats ever discovered anywhere in the world. This ancient bat lived in forests and swampy areas. It likely ate insects and maybe even small fish.
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About Australonycteris
Australonycteris is a "monotypic genus." This means it's a group of animals that only contains one known species. The only species in this group is Australonycteris clarkae.
Scientists found the first fossils of this bat in 1994. The most important fossil they found was a tooth. All the known fossils of Australonycteris clarkae come from one place. This place is called the Tingamarra Local Fauna – Boat Mountain deposit, near Murgon.
How it got its name
The name Australonycteris comes from ancient Greek words. "Australo" means "southern," like Australia. "Nycteris" means "bat." So, it means "southern bat."
The species name, clarkae, honors Elaine Clark. She was very involved in the research of ancient animals at Riversleigh and Murgon.
What Australonycteris was like
Australonycteris clarkae is one of the earliest bats we know about from fossils. Scientists have found several of its teeth, a piece of its lower jaw, and some other bone fragments.
This bat was a medium-sized species. Its forearm was about 40 to 45 millimeters long. Scientists believe Australonycteris was fully able to fly, just like modern bats.
Special features
Australonycteris had some differences in its teeth compared to bats living today. However, it also had many features similar to modern microbats. Microbats are a group of bats that use echolocation.
Australonycteris clarkae could also echolocate. This means it used sound waves to find its way around and hunt prey in the dark.
What it ate
The teeth of Australonycteris clarkae show signs of wear. This wear suggests it ate prey with hard outer shells, like beetles. It might also have eaten small fish. Its body size would have made catching fish possible.
See also
In Spanish: Australonycteris para niños
