Order Dermoptera
The dermopterans constitute the group of "flying lemurs" — a confusing name since they are neither lemurs, nor do they fly. Only 2 species survive today — the colugos (Cynocepkalus) of Southeast Asia, both strict vegetarians.
These modern animals, less than 1 ft/30 cm long, can glide as far as 450 ft/137 m from tree to tree on outstretched skin membranes. It is assumed, though there is no direct evidence for this, that Mid-Paleocene and Early Eocene dermopterans could do likewise. There is some evidence that dermopterans are closely related to bats, tree shrews and primates, and that they all share a common ancestry with insectivores, but this is by no means certain: the similarities may be a result of convergent evolution of unrelated groups.
name: Planetetherium time: Late Paleocene locality: North America (Montana) size: 10 in/25 cm long
Planetetherium's remains have been found in beds of coal formed over many millions of years from dense lakeside forests of Cypress trees. As in the colugos, each incisor was divided to make a forward-pointing comb, with about 5 "teeth" arising from each root. Their function is unknown — they may have been used for grooming, or for scraping and straining food.
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