Icaronycteris is an extinct genus of microchiropteran (echolocating) bat that lived in the early Eocene, approximately 52.5 million years ago. Four exceptionally preserved specimens are known from the Green River Formation of North America. There is only one thoroughly described species of bat in the genus, I. index, although fragmentary material from France has also been tentatively placed within Icaronycteris.1
Icaronycteris measured about 14 cm (5,5 in) long and had a wingspan of 37 cm (1 ft 3 in). It closely resembled modern bats, but had some primitive traits. The tail was much longer and not connected to the hind legs with a skin membrane, the first wing finger bore a claw and the body was much more flexible. Like modern bats, Icaronycteris slept while hanging upside down, holding onto a tree branch or stone ridge with its hind legs.
Cultural references
Icaronycteris was featured as an enemy in the 2000 game adaptation of Walt Disney Pictures's Dinosaur.
References
- Barry Cox, Colin Harrison, R.J.G. Savage, and Brian Gardiner. (1999): The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures: A Visual Who's Who of Prehistoric Life. Simon & Schuster.
- Jayne Parsons.(2001): Dinosaur Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley.
- Hazel Richardson.(2003): Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals (Smithsonian Handbooks). Pg.170,Dorling Kindersley.
- David Norman. (2001) The Big Book Of Dinosaurs. Pg.119, Welcome Books.
External links
|
This prehistoric mammal-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it..jpg){kind=small}
