The oldest African molossid bat cranium (Chiroptera: Molossidae)

(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) A fossil cranium from Rusinga Island, Kenya, is described as a new species of free-tailed bat, Tadarida rusingae (Chiroptera, Molossidae). The sediments where the skull was found are dated by Potassium–Argon assay at about 17.5–18.0 million years before present (early Miocene). Comparisons with fossil molossids and all the extant species of Tadarida show that T. rusingae is distinguished by its large size, well developed posterior sagittal crest, deeply domed palate, and several features of the upper molars. This skull represents one of the most complete fossil molossid bats known.