Extinct Walking Bat Found; Upends Evolutionary Theory

nationalgeographic ^ | August 7, 2009 | Carolyn Barry

[JoeProBono]

A walking bat in New Zealand took its marching orders from an ancestor, a new fossil-bat discovery reveals.

Scientists had long thought that the lesser short-tailed bat evolved its walking preference independently.

Since the bat's native habitat lacks predators, researchers reasoned that—much like flightless birds on isolated islands—the bat had adapted to its safer surroundings in part by walking.

But the discovery of fossils of a now extinct walking bat in northwestern Queensland, Australia, suggests that the modern-day bats descended from 20-million-year-old Australian relatives.

"We were amazed to find they were virtually identical to the bats in New Zealand today," said study leader Sue Hand, a paleontologist at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

The fossil bat had a similar groove in its elbow as its modern counterpart. This supports a specialized muscular system that allows bats to launch from the ground, where they spend about 40 percent of their time.

Unlike their modern relatives, the ancient bats had plenty of predators, Hand said, including marsupial lions and carnivorous kangaroos.

But the quick little bats, measuring up to three inches (eight centimeters) long, would have easily escaped capture.

"They're very agile on the ground, quick to fly, and reasonably aggressive," Hand said.

[ZULU]

Wrong animal - its about bats, not female dogs.

[null and void]

Galloping Gargoyles!

[colorado tanker]

Don't ask me about my husband! I will not channel my husband! I'm the Secretary of State, not him! I almost was nominated for President! Now it's my turn to get lewinskys!

[wildbill]

Anybody ever noticed the uncanny resemblance between Bat Boy and Obama?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Relative of Mothman?

[mkjessup]

I don’t know FRiend, but that has to be one of the finest lookin’ derriere’s to ever appear on TV or anywhere else.

Julie Newmar?

‘My Livin’ Doll’ ;)

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Bound for the Smithsonian and Madame Tussauds, no doubt.

Do you think Nancy Pelosi could squeeze into that leather costume?

[mkjessup]

Only if the costume were available in a Size 30X to accomodate her massive ego.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

It would be interesting to hear a liberal secular humanist explain how her posterior "Upends Evolutionary Theory." As long as they keep their sense of humor.

[mkjessup]

In my experience, I have found that the only real 'sense of humor' that liberals have, is the self-generated laughter that ensues from the lies they tell (and are believed by the ignorant masses), the destruction of all that is moral and holy, and the suffering of people better than themselves.

Sir Winston Churchill's quote applies: "If you're not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you're not a conservative at forty you have no brain."