Retroviruses can create endogenous forms on infiltration into the germline cells of their hosts. These forms are then vertically transmitted and can be considered as genetic fossils of ancient viruses. All retrovirus genera, with the exception of deltaretroviruses, have had their representation identified in the host genome as a virus fossil record. Here we describe an endogenous Deltaretrovirus, identified in the germline of long-fingered bats (Miniopteridae). A single, heavily deleted copy of this retrovirus has been found in the genome of miniopterid species, but not in the genomes of the phylogenetically closest bat families, Vespertilionidae and Cistugonidae. Therefore, the endogenization occurred in a time interval between 20 and 45 million years ago. This discovery closes the last major gap in the retroviral fossil record and provides important insights into the history of deltaretroviruses in mammals.

Department of Biology and Ecology University of Ostrava Ostrava 71000 Czech Republic

Department of Zoology Charles University Prague 12844 Czech Republic

Department of Zoology National Museum Prague 11579 Czech Republic

Laboratory of Genomics and Bioinformatics Institute of Molecular Genetics The Czech Academy of Sciences Prague 14220 Czech Republic

Laboratory of Viral and Cellular Genetics Institute of Molecular Genetics The Czech Academy of Sciences Prague 14220 Czech Republic

Laboratory of Viral and Cellular Genetics Institute of Molecular Genetics The Czech Academy of Sciences Prague 14220 Czech Republic;

MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research Glasgow G12 8TA United Kingdom

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