Miocene emballonurids (Chiroptera, Mammalia) from Berg Aukas I, Namibia (Africa) and their odontological features.

The taxonomic diversity of the insectivorous bat family Emballonuridae, which occurs widely in the tropics of the Old and New Worlds, is considered. Special emphasis is placed on extant African emballonurids which comprise about 11 species belonging to four genera: Coleura, Paremballonura, Saccolaimus and Taphozous. The functional aspects of their odontology are analysed. Most extant African emballonurids are typically cave-dwellers, so it is not surprising that their fossil remains have been found in the Miocene karstic site of Berg Aukas I in Namibia. Dentognathic fossils from Berg Aukas I most probably belong to Saccolaimus sp. and Taphozous sp. (Taphozoinae) and some specimens evidently represent new species of the subfamily Emballonurinae. Remains of Taphozoinae are the most abundant in the taphocenoses, but specimens of smaller Emballonurinae are also well-represented. Future taxonomic study of fossil emballonurids from Berg Aukas will surely throw light on questions of diversification of the group from the Middle Miocene to the Holocene and could be useful for palaeoclimatic reconstructions in this part of Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]