Myzopoda

Myzopoda, which has two described species, is the only genus in the bat family Myzopodidae. Myzopodidae is unique as the only family of bats presently endemic to Madagascar. However, fossil discoveries indicate that the family has an ancient lineage in Africa, extending from the Pleistocene as far back as the late Eocene.[1][2] Based on nuclear DNA sequence data, Myzopodidae appears to be basal in the Gondwanan superfamily Noctilionoidea, most of whose members are neotropical.[1][3] The origin and initial diversification of Noctilionoidea may have occurred in Africa prior to their dispersal to Australia and South America, probably via Antarctica.[1] On the basis of fossil and molecular clock evidence, myzopodids are estimated to have split off from the rest of Noctilionoidea about 50 (46 to 57) million years ago.[3]

Myzopoda Temporal range: Eocene to Recent
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Myzopodidae Thomas, 1904
Genus:	Myzopoda Milne-Edwards & A. Grandidier, 1878

Distribution and phylogeny of Noctilionoidea inferred from nuclear DNA sequence data, showing the basal position of Myzopodidae. Locations with only fossil members are indicated by red stars.

Species

• Genus Myzopoda
  • Madagascar sucker-footed bat, Myzopoda aurita Milne-Edwards & Grandidier, 1878
  • Western sucker-footed bat, Myzopoda schliemanni Goodman, Rakotondraparany & Kofoky, 2006

See also

• List of bats of Madagascar

References

1. Gunnell, G. F.; Simmons, N. B.; Seiffert, E. R. (2014-02-04). "New Myzopodidae (Chiroptera) from the Late Paleogene of Egypt: Emended Family Diagnosis and Biogeographic Origins of Noctilionoidea". PLoS ONE. 9 (2): e86712. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...986712G. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086712. PMC 3913578. PMID 24504061.
2. Dunham, W. (2014-02-05). "Madagascar's tiny 'sucker-foots' give old bat new meaning". Reuters. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
3. Teeling, E. C.; Springer, M.; Madsen, O.; Bates, P.; O'Brien, S.; Murphy, W. (2005-01-28). "A Molecular Phylogeny for Bats Illuminates Biogeography and the Fossil Record". Science. 307 (5709): 580–584. Bibcode:2005Sci...307..580T. doi:10.1126/science.1105113. PMID 15681385.

• Goodman, S. M.; Rakotondraparany, F.; Kofoky, A. (2007-03-26). "The description of a new species of Myzopoda (Myzopodidae: Chiroptera) from western Madagascar". Mammalian Biology - Zeitschrift fur Saugetierkunde. 72 (2): 65–81. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2006.08.001.