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Here we offer you a fossil of the bat Palaeochiropteryx tupaiodon from the world famous Messel Pit.
Palaeochiropteryx tupaiodon is one of the most valuable fossils from the Messel Pit near Darmstadt in Germany.
It is one of the oldest and best-preserved ancient bats in the world.
Fact sheet: Palaeochiropteryx tupaiodon
Age: Approximately 47 to 48 million years ago (Eozaen age).
Size: Very small, with a wingspan of only about 25 to 30 cm.
Lifestyle: It was a specialized insectivore that probably hunted in low-level flight close to the forest floor or water's surface.
Why is this fossil so special?
The finds from the Messel Pit (UNESCO World Heritage Site) are responsible for their economic state of preservation:
Soft tissue preservation: In many Palaeochiropteryx specimens, not only the skeleton is preserved, but also the outline of the wing
membranes and even the stomach contents.
Last meal: Researchers were able to detect remains of moths and beetles in the stomachs of the fossils.
Echolocation: Based on the skull structure, it was possible to demonstrate that these early bats already used echolocation for
hunting in the dark.
Color determination: By examining fossilized melanosomes (pigment structures) in the preserved hairs, scientists suspect that the
fur of Palaeochiropteryx was originally reddish-brown.
Meaning of the name:
The name is composed of Palaeo (ancient), chiro (hand), and pteryx (wing). The pseudo-name tupaiodon refers to the similarity of
the teeth to those of tree shrews (Tupaia).
Messel fossils are highly sought-after collector's items. The site has been inaccessible to collectors for many years and is under
strict protection.
Information about the specimen offered here:
This piece comes from an old collection and was discovered in the 1970s. It has been professionally prepared and displays many
interesting details. For example, the teeth on the skull are clearly visible. Even soft tissues such as the wing membrane have been
preserved.
As with fossils from this particular site, the specimen was prepared using the so-called resin transfer method. This is the only way to
permanently preserve such fossils.
The Messel Pit is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the site is closed to private collectors, and no new finds have come onto the market
for decades.
The largest dimension of the fossil is approximately 7 x 5 cm, and the slab measures approximately 9 x 7 cm.
A rarely offered and honest piece, there are absolutely no manipulations!
Palaeochiropteryx tupaiodon is one of the most valuable fossils from the Messel Pit near Darmstadt in Germany.
It is one of the oldest and best-preserved ancient bats in the world.
Fact sheet: Palaeochiropteryx tupaiodon
Age: Approximately 47 to 48 million years ago (Eozaen age).
Size: Very small, with a wingspan of only about 25 to 30 cm.
Lifestyle: It was a specialized insectivore that probably hunted in low-level flight close to the forest floor or water's surface.
Why is this fossil so special?
The finds from the Messel Pit (UNESCO World Heritage Site) are responsible for their economic state of preservation:
Soft tissue preservation: In many Palaeochiropteryx specimens, not only the skeleton is preserved, but also the outline of the wing
membranes and even the stomach contents.
Last meal: Researchers were able to detect remains of moths and beetles in the stomachs of the fossils.
Echolocation: Based on the skull structure, it was possible to demonstrate that these early bats already used echolocation for
hunting in the dark.
Color determination: By examining fossilized melanosomes (pigment structures) in the preserved hairs, scientists suspect that the
fur of Palaeochiropteryx was originally reddish-brown.
Meaning of the name:
The name is composed of Palaeo (ancient), chiro (hand), and pteryx (wing). The pseudo-name tupaiodon refers to the similarity of
the teeth to those of tree shrews (Tupaia).
Messel fossils are highly sought-after collector's items. The site has been inaccessible to collectors for many years and is under
strict protection.
Information about the specimen offered here:
This piece comes from an old collection and was discovered in the 1970s. It has been professionally prepared and displays many
interesting details. For example, the teeth on the skull are clearly visible. Even soft tissues such as the wing membrane have been
preserved.
As with fossils from this particular site, the specimen was prepared using the so-called resin transfer method. This is the only way to
permanently preserve such fossils.
The Messel Pit is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the site is closed to private collectors, and no new finds have come onto the market
for decades.
The largest dimension of the fossil is approximately 7 x 5 cm, and the slab measures approximately 9 x 7 cm.
A rarely offered and honest piece, there are absolutely no manipulations!
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