New Miocene megadermatids (Chiroptera: Megadermatidae) from Australia with comments on megadermatid phylogenetics

Abstract

Two new species of megadermatid bats (Macroderma godthelpi and an unnamed taxon) are described from middle Miocene limestone deposits on Riversleigh Station, northwestern Queensland and their probable phylogentic positions within the Megadermatidae are discussed. The new Riversleigh species appear to be representatives of two separate megadermatid lineages. Consideration is given to the significance of the Australian forms within a world context. The Riversleigh material has also prompted a re-evaluation of morphological characters used to determine limits for fossil megadermatids. To facilitate this assessment, size and morphological variation present in Australia's Recent megadermatid, Macroderma gigas, have been investigated.