Simmons, N.B.; Seymour, K.L.; Habersetzer, J.; Gunnell, G.F.
taxonomy · range · morphology · ecology · topology · biogeography
Primary description of ROM 55351A; flight and echolocation capability are functional inferences from preserved anatomy.
Onychonycteris finneyi holotype ROM 55351A preserves a nearly complete skeleton with wing proportions compatible with powered flight and a relatively small cochlea interpreted as lacking specialized laryngeal echolocation; neither behaviour was observed and the specimen is not a direct ancestor of living bats.
claim:event:onychonycteris-flight-echolocationROM 55351A defines Onychonycteris finneyi and was placed near the bat stem in the source matrix; this is not a direct ancestor claim.
claim:taxon:onychonycteris:taxonomyThe profile represents the Fossil Butte Member occurrence in Wyoming and does not define the full range or origin centre of bats.
claim:taxon:onychonycteris:biogeographyWing anatomy supports powered flight and cochlear size tests specialized echolocation, while diet, calls, flight performance and behaviour were not observed.
claim:taxon:onychonycteris:ecologyROM 55351A preserves elongated wings, claws on all manual digits and a relatively small cochlea compared with sampled echolocating bats.
claim:taxon:onychonycteris:morphologyThe 52.5–50.3 Ma envelope is a bounded Green River formation context, not a global bat FAD, genus LAD or flight–echolocation transition duration.
claim:taxon:onychonycteris:fossil-rangeThe 52.5–0 Ma Chiroptera route is anchored by the Green River Onychonycteris holotype and living bats; the specimen documents an early bat occurrence, not crown-bat origination, a direct ancestor or a global FAD.
claim:taxon:chiroptera:root-range