Bats being linked to Halloween is likely from the Gaelic festival Samhain, marking harvest’s end. Bonfires were lit which drew in insects, which attracted bats. Their mating season also falls around this time, so they gather in large numbers to mate and feed before hibernating.

P. tupaiodon is the most frequently found mammal from the pit, as well as being one of the smallest Messel Bats (with a wingspan on 26-29cm). It is thought that the family is the sister taxon to modern-day echolocating bats (Habersetzer et al., 2016; Simmons and Geisler, 1998)

So exciting! Can’t wait to hear more about your work! 🌿🎉🙌🌳🍁