TIL that the taxonomic clade uniting bats with mammals like whales, cheetahs, pangolins, and rhinos (Scrotifera) is named after the presence of a postpenile scrotum in their common ancestor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrotifera

I single out bats (Chiroptera, "hand-wings") because those other ones are already under the grandorder Ferungulata. Scrotifera just brings the bats into the fold.

52 points · 5 comments · view on lemmy.world

5 Comments

arctanthrope@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 7d (1 reply)

scrotifera literally means "nutsack havers"

edit: I suppose that's just a paraphrase of the title, isn't it

deft@lemmy.wtf · 3 pts · 7d

Heyy that was my nickname in college. Wow wicked.

JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.social · 9 pts · 7d (2 replies)

Chiroptera are still being debated upon the closest lineage of primates.

I.e.-- outside of the monkey / primate group of animals, they may be our closest relatives!

LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net · 6 pts · 7d (1 reply)

I thought that was rodents.

Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 5 pts · 7d

That's the other option that is being debated and is currently favoured.