A skeleton of Cuvierimops (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from the lower Oligocene (Rupelian) of Céreste, southern France

Abstract A previously unstudied, almost complete skeleton of a bat from the lower Oligocene site of Céreste (southern France) with long, narrow wings and strong legs is assigned to the family Molossidae. Based on the upper molars the specimen is attributed to the genus Cuvierimops . This genus was previously only known from teeth and fragmentary skeletal material from the upper Eocene and Oligocene of France and early Miocene of Spain. The Cuvierimops specimen shows adaptations to fast and enduring flight as seen in modern Molossidae such as optimised attachment surfaces for the flight muscles and a high wing extension. This suggests that the open environment of the Céreste fossil lake was the preferred hunting ground for Cuvierimops . The undisturbed preservation of the specimen can be explained by the generally hostile conditions for scavengers, including occasionally anoxic conditions, in the Céreste paleolake.