Odontological characters of African molossid bats (Molossidae, Chiroptera, Mammalia) in the context of studies of the Miocene bat assemblages from Berg Aukas I, Namibia.

The dental features of more than 28 species of the Afro-Malagasy molossids have been examined in order to determine the affinities of fossil specimens from Berg Aukas, Namibia. All species were classed into morphotypes on the basis of their dental patterns: - Otomops has a more plesiomorphic morphotype and, among the large species, Mops is more derived; among somewhat smaller molossids, Mormopterus, Tadarida and Nyctinomus have primitive morphotypes, whereas Myopterus is derived. Previously the fossil remains of Chaerephon sp. Mormopterus sp. and cf. Sauromys sp. were identified from the Miocene site of Berg Aukas I. While Chaerephon and Sauromys occur in Africa today, the presence of the insular genus Mormopterus in the Miocene of Berg Aukas may indicate the continental origin of this genus. The taxonomic suggestions and conclusions of the extant Molossidae and some taphonomic remarks about their Miocene remains are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]