Brevipalatus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brevipalatus |
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Brevipalatus mcculloughi is an ancient species of bat. It lived during the early Miocene epoch, many millions of years ago. Scientists discovered its fossils at a special place called the Riversleigh World Heritage Area in Australia.
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Discovering Brevipalatus
Scientists Suzanne Hand and Mike Archer officially described Brevipalatus mcculloughi in 2005. They are important researchers at the Riversleigh fossil sites. They realized this bat was different enough from other bats in the hipposiderid family to create a new group (genus) for it.
How it Got its Name
The name Brevipalatus comes from Latin. It means "short palate," which describes the bat's short roof of the mouth. The second part of its name, mcculloughi, honors Ron McCullough. He was the mayor of Mount Isa in Queensland, Australia. Ron McCullough gave a lot of support to the research at the Riversleigh World Heritage Area.
The First Fossil Found
A special fossil, called a 'holotype', was chosen as the main example of this bat. It was part of a skull with some teeth still attached. This important fossil was found at a place called the Bitesantennary Site. All the other fossils used to describe this bat also came from this same special place.
What Brevipalatus Looked Like
Brevipalatus mcculloughi was a type of bat, similar to the "old world leaf-nosed bats" we see today. These bats use echolocation to hunt for food at night. Echolocation is like using sound waves to "see" in the dark.
Special Features
This ancient bat had a short palate, which helped scientists tell it apart from other bats. Its teeth and ear structures suggest it ate insects, like moths. It probably caught them while flying at night, just like many modern bats do.
Size and Weight
Scientists estimate that Brevipalatus mcculloughi weighed about 8 grams. That's about as much as two quarters! Its forearm was about 45 to 50 millimeters long.
Modern Relatives
A modern bat found in northern Australia, the Orange leaf-nosed bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia), is thought to be a close relative of Brevipalatus mcculloughi.
Where Brevipalatus Lived
The fossils of Brevipalatus mcculloughi were found at the Bitesantennary site. This site is famous for having many different kinds of bat fossils and other ancient animals from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area.
Its Ancient Home
The Bitesantennary site was once a cave inside a limestone rock formation. Brevipalatus mcculloughi lived in this cave during the early Miocene period. The area around the cave was a lush rainforest. This bat likely shared its daytime roosts (sleeping spots) in the cave with other bat species.
