Abstract:
SIGNIFICANCE : The scarcity of bat fossils in Africa poses a significant challenge to both scientific understanding and current
conservation efforts. While this article engages in informed speculation regarding the reasons behind this
scarcity, it does not lessen the importance of the issue. Without a robust fossil record, tracing the evolutionary
history, biological adaptations, and historical ecological roles of bats becomes difficult. Understanding their
past is instrumental in mitigating current threats to bats like habitat loss and climate change. Thus, the
intriguing lack of a comprehensive fossil record not only limits scientific inquiry but also hinders effective
conservation measures.
