Panama Canal Expansion: A New Chapter for Diverse Bats

The Panama Canal is not only a marvel of engineering, but also a treasure trove of paleontology. The recent expansion of the canal has uncovered fossils of ancient animals that lived in Central America before the land bridge between North and South America was formed. Among these fossils are the oldest-known leaf-nosed bat fossils, which belong to an extinct species that was closely related to the big-eared woolly bat, one of the largest bats in Panama.

What are leaf-nosed bats?

Leaf-nosed bats are a group of more than 200 species of bats that are found only in the New World, from Mexico to Argentina. They are named for the leaf-like structures on their noses, which help them echolocate their prey and navigate in the dark. Leaf-nosed bats are among the world’s most ecologically diverse mammals, with different species feeding on insects, nectar, fruit, pollen, blood, and even small vertebrates. They play important roles in pollination, seed dispersal, pest control, and nutrient cycling.

Where did leaf-nosed bats come from?

Until recently, it was thought that leaf-nosed bats originated in South America, where they diversified into many feeding niches in the absence of other competitors. However, the discovery of the 20-million-year-old leaf-nosed bat fossils along the Panama Canal challenges this idea. These fossils are older than any other leaf-nosed bat fossils from South America, and they suggest that leaf-nosed bats may have had a northern origin instead. They also show that leaf-nosed bats were already diverse before the Great American Biotic Interchange, when animals from North and South America started to mix about 5 million years ago.

Why is this discovery important?

The discovery of the oldest leaf-nosed bat fossils in Panama sheds new light on the evolutionary history of one of the most successful groups of mammals. It also reveals how the Panama Canal expansion has opened a window into a past world that was rich in biodiversity and unique adaptations. By studying these fossils, scientists can learn more about how animals responded to environmental changes and biogeographic events in Earth’s history.

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