Palaeochiropteryx
tupaiodon
Class Mammalia,
Order Chiroptera, Suborder Microchiroptera, Family Archaeonycterididae
Geological
Time: Middle Eocene
Size (25.4
mm = 1 inch): Bat fossil is 48 mm wide, 50 mm in length on a 95 mm
by 108 mm resin matrix
Fossil
Site: Messel Pit, Darmstadt, Germany
Code: GF117
Price: Sold
Description:
This is a fine example of a small species of bat from the oil
shale Messel Pit deposits of Darmstadt, Germany, known as Palaeochiropteryx
tupaiodon. These ~50 million year old deposits are famous for
their exceptionally well-preserved organisms, some of which
have the remains of their last meal preserved within. Soft
tissue preservation is a common event in material from the
pit, and that is easily seen here in preservation of wing tissue,
and the ouitline of the head, including the ears!. The general
darkened outline most likely represents some of this soft tissue
preservation, but some striated material can be seen draped
over the limb bones in several photos. This genus possessed
relatively broad, short wings, indicative of adaptation for
slow, highly maneuverable flight near the forest floor. While
some features such as the skull and skeleton are primitive,
the shape of the wings resembles that of the modern-day Hipposiderids
which have a similar flight habit. Many of the limb bones are
in articulation. This bat probably was overcome by toxic gases
from the lake while in low-level pursuit of flying insects.
Due to this fragility of the oil shale, this specimen, like
all from the locality, has been embedded in resin to allow
preparation. The fossil is then flipped over and the matrix
removed on the opposite side. A final coating of resin serves
to preserve the specimen as seen here. This fine example is
the result of the individual who developed this technique in
the 1970s. His work is world-renowned, with many specimens
prepared by him on display in Frankfurt’s Senckenberg
Museum. In the past decade prices for quality specimens has
skyrocketed. Due to the fact that Messel is now a World Heritage
Site, only material such as this from an old collection will
be available.
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