Synemporion

Synemporion
Temporal range: Pleistocene–Holocene
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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Synemporion
Ziegler et al., 2016
Species: S. keana
Binomial name
Synemporion keana
Ziegler et al., 2016

Synemporion keana is an extinct species of bat which lived in what is now Hawaii from at least 320,000 years ago to around 2,100 years ago. It is the only species in the genus Synemporion.[1][2]

Fossil discovery

The first fossils of Synemporion keana were found in a lava tube on Maui in 1981.[2] As of 2016, fossils from at least 110 unique individuals of this species have been uncovered.[1]

Taxonomy and etymology

The genus name Synemporion is derived from Ancient Greek "synemporos" meaning "fellow traveler or companion." The authors chose this genus name to reflect the fact that the genus traveled on the tectonically active Hawaiian Islands along with the Hawaiian hoary bat. The species name "keana" comes from Hawaiian "ke" meaning "the" and "ana" meaning "cave." The name keana references the fact that the holotype was discovered in a lava tube. The relationship of Synemporion relative to other vesper bat genera is inconclusive. Researchers have been unable to extract its DNA from fossils, which is the only reliable way to examine phylogenetic relationships in this family of bats. It is unclear if Synemporion colonized the Hawaiian Islands from the Old World or the New World.[1]

Description

It was a relatively small species of bat. Its dental formula was 1.1.1.33.1.2.3 or 1.1.2.33.1.2.3 for a total of 30 or 32 teeth.[1]

Geographic range

S. keana lived on at least 5 Hawaiian islands: Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi.[1]

Temporal range

While it is unknown when Synemporion first arrived in the Hawaiian islands, the oldest known fossils are from 320,000–400,000-year-old deposits on Oahu. One bone from another site on Oahu has been dated at 2718–2479 years ago, but some undated remains indicate that S. keana survived until more recently; relatively well-preserved skeletons in a wet, dynamically active cave on Molokai suggest that the bat may have survived until as recently as a few thousand years ago.[1]

Extinction

Like many Hawaiian birds, the extinction of Synemporion keana may have been caused by humans, either directly or indirectly. Possible causes of its extinction include destruction of Hawaiian lowland dry forests and introduction of predators such as rats.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ziegler, Alan C.; Howarth, Francis G.; Simmons, Nancy B. (2016-03-21). "A Second Endemic Land Mammal for the Hawaiian Islands: A New Genus and Species of Fossil Bat (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)". American Museum Novitates (3854): 1–52. doi:10.1206/3854.1. ISSN 0003-0082.
  2. 1 2 Discovery of Extinct Bat Doubles Diversity of Native Hawaiian Land Mammals, at the American Museum of Natural History; published March 21, 2016; retrieved June 20, 2016
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