Xenorhinos facts for kids

Xenorhinos halli was a type of bat that lived a very long time ago, during a period called the early Miocene. Scientists found its fossils in a special place in northern Australia called the Riversleigh World Heritage Area.

Discovering Xenorhinos halli

Scientists first described Xenorhinos halli in 1998. A researcher named Suzanne Hand from the Riversleigh fossil sites published the description. This bat was so unique that it was placed in its own new group, or genus, separate from other bats in the hipposiderid family.

The main fossil used to describe this bat was a skull with some teeth still attached. This special fossil was found at a site called Bitesantennary. All the first fossils used to describe Xenorhinos halli came from this same location.

How it Got its Name

The name Xenorhinos means "strange nose." This name was chosen because the bat had a very unusual broad and short face (called a palate and rostrum). This feature was unique among bats in the hipposiderid family.

The second part of its name, halli, honors Leslie S. Hall. He was a professor at the University of Queensland. Professor Hall was well-known for his important work studying bats.

What Xenorhinos halli Looked Like

Xenorhinos halli was a microbat, which means it was a small bat. It belonged to the hipposiderid family. These bats are also known as old world leaf-nosed bats or trident bats. They use echolocation to hunt for food at night. Echolocation is like using sound waves to "see" in the dark.

This bat had a very short palate and a wide face. These features, along with other parts of its skull, made it different from other bats in its family. Scientists believe its closest living relative today is the Persian leaf-nosed bat, called Triaenops persicus.

Where Xenorhinos halli Lived

The fossils of Xenorhinos halli were found at the Bitesantennary site. This place was home to many different kinds of bat species. It also had other animals that lived in the area a long time ago.