O.C. Marsh originally described Nyctitherium, from the Eocene of Wyoming, as an early bat based on similarities of its teeth.[1] Since 1872 more than two dozen other genera of nyctitheriids have been named, and several of these have also initially been considered bats.[2][3]G.G. Simpson recognized that Nyctitherium did not represent a bat, and in 1928 named the family Nyctitheriidae for Nyctitherium and several other small insectivores.[4]
Many additional species of Nyctitheriidae from Asia, Europe, and North America have been recognized in the subsequent decades. Most species are known only from isolated teeth and jaw fragments, however species of Cryptotopos, Euronyctia, Plagioctenodon, and Scraeva are known from some postcranial bones.[5][6]
Evolutionary relationships
A recent phylogenetic analysis placed Nyctitheriidae within Eulipotyphla,[5] although Hooker (2001, 2014) has argued based on similarities in the limb bones for a relationship with Euarchonta, instead.[7][6]
^Revilliod, Pierre (1922). "Contribution à l'étude des Chiroptères des terrains tertiaires. Troisième partie et fin". Abhandlungen der schweizerischen palaeontologischen geologischen Gesellschaft. 45: 133–195.
^Gingerich, Philip D (1987). "Early Eocene bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) and other vertebrates in freshwater limestones of the Willwood Formation, Clark's Fork Basin, Wyoming". University of Michigan Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology. 27: 275–320.
^Simpson, George Gaylord; Brown, Barnum; Siegfriedt, J. C. F. (1928). "A new mammalian fauna from the Fort Union of southern Montana. American Museum novitates ; no. 297". hdl:2246/3165. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Beard, K. Christopher; Dawson, Mary R. (November 2009). "Early Wasatchian Mammals of the Red Hot Local Fauna, Uppermost Tuscahoma Formation, Lauderdale County, Mississippi". Annals of Carnegie Museum. 78 (3): 193–243. doi:10.2992/007.078.0301. ISSN0097-4463. S2CID86281527.
^Manz, Carly L.; Bloch, Jonathan I. (2015-09-01). "Systematics and Phylogeny of Paleocene-Eocene Nyctitheriidae (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla?) with Description of a new Species from the Late Paleocene of the Clarks Fork Basin, Wyoming, USA". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 22 (3): 307–342. doi:10.1007/s10914-014-9284-3. ISSN1573-7055. S2CID15369336.