Synemporion facts for kids

Synemporion keana was an extinct species of bat. It lived in what is now Hawaii for a very long time, from at least 320,000 years ago until about 2,100 years ago. It is the only known species in its group, called Synemporion.

How We Found Synemporion keana

The very first fossils of Synemporion keana were discovered in 1981. They were found inside a lava tube (which is like a cave formed by flowing lava) on the island of Maui.

By 2016, scientists had found fossils from at least 110 different bats of this species. This means they had a lot of clues about what these bats were like!

Its Name and Family Tree

The name Synemporion comes from Ancient Greek words. It means "fellow traveler" or "companion." Scientists chose this name because this bat traveled across the Hawaiian Islands. It moved along with another bat, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Aeorestes semotus).

The second part of its name, keana, comes from the Hawaiian words "ke" (meaning "the") and "ana" (meaning "cave"). This name was chosen because the main fossil that helped identify the species was found in a lava tube or cave.

Scientists have not been able to get DNA from Synemporion fossils. This makes it hard to know its exact family tree. We don't know if it came from bats in the Old World (like Europe or Asia) or the New World (like North or South America).

What Synemporion keana Looked Like

Synemporion keana was a fairly small bat. It was about 25% smaller than the Hawaiian hoary bat. The Hawaiian hoary bat weighs about 10-15 grams and has a wingspan of about 12 centimeters (around 5 inches).

One interesting thing about Synemporion keana's skull was its nose area. It was somewhat narrow and curved inward. This made its snout look quite noticeable. Most bats in its family use their voice box to make echolocation sounds, not their nose. So, we don't know exactly how its nose looked in real life.

Unlike many other bats, Synemporion keana seemed to be missing a special ridge on its skull called a sagittal crest. This ridge helps strong jaw muscles attach. Its teeth were also more delicate than the Hawaiian hoary bat's. This suggests that Synemporion keana probably ate different kinds of food. It likely ate smaller or softer insects because it couldn't bite as hard. It had a total of 30 or 32 teeth.

Where It Lived

Synemporion keana lived on at least five of the Hawaiian islands. These islands include Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi.

When It Lived

We don't know exactly when Synemporion first arrived in Hawaii. However, the oldest fossils found are from 320,000 to 400,000 years ago. These very old fossils were found on the island of Oahu.

One bone from Oahu was dated to about 2,718 to 2,479 years ago. Other remains suggest that this bat might have lived even more recently. Some well-preserved skeletons found in a wet cave on Molokai suggest it might have survived until just a few thousand years ago.

Why It Disappeared

Like many other animals in Hawaii, Synemporion keana's extinction might have been caused by humans. This could have happened directly or indirectly.

One possible reason for its disappearance was the destruction of Hawaiian lowland dry forests. These forests were important habitats for the bats. Another reason could be the introduction of new predators, like rats, which were brought to the islands by humans.