- Icaronycteris
Taxobox
name = "Icaronycteris"
fossil_range = EarlyEocene
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Mammalia
ordo =Chiroptera
subordo =Microchiroptera
familia =Archaeonycterididae
genus = "Icaronycteris"
genus_authority = Jepsen,1966 "Icaronycteris" is an extinct genus of microchiropteran (echolocating)
bat that lived in the earlyEocene , approximately 52.5 million years ago. Four exceptionally preserved specimens are known from theGreen 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". [ [http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/2246/1629/1/B235-0002.pdf Bulletin American Museum of Natural History Number 235 pg 40] Accessed on 22 October 2006]"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 askin membrane, the first wing finger bore aclaw and the body was much more flexible. Like modern bats, "Icaronycteris" slept while hanging upside down, holding onto atree branch or stone ridge with its hind legs.Cultural references
"Icaronycteris" was featured as an enemy in the
2000 game adaptation ofWalt 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
* [http://www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/Icaronycteris.htm Steven M. Carr Fossil picture]
* [http://www.jwaller.co.uk/batgroup/biology.asp bat biology]
* [http://gatito.valdosta.edu/fossil_pages/fossils_ter/m10.html Cast and reconstruction]
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