Bats Originated in Europe 65 Million Years Ago

Origins and Dispersal of Bats Across Continents

For decades, scientific consensus pointed toward Asia, Africa, or the Americas as the birthplace of bats. The new genomic research challenges those assumptions by placing the lineage’s emergence in Europe roughly 65 million years ago, coinciding with rising global temperatures and environmental shifts. Professor Liliana M. Dávalos of the University of Stony Brook notes that jointly modelling the evolution of fossil and living species allowed researchers to place the oldest group of fossil bats alongside genomic data to pinpoint when and where the group appeared. From that European population, the first descendants dispersed into Africa, creating a Euro-African core that eventually populated Asia, the Americas, and Australia.

Evolution of Flight and Echolocation

Powered flight and echolocation did not emerge at later stages of bat evolution, as previously thought. Instead, findings highlight that both defining traits appeared near the very origin of the group. The position of the fossil of the genus Vielasia on the oldest branch of the family tree reinforces this conclusion, according to the research team. Professor Emma Teeling of University College Dublin points out that this work yields a robust phylogenetic tree after decades of contradictory findings. Researchers utilized state-of-the-art DNA sequencing and computational methods to analyze rare and remote species, including the bumblebee bat from Thailand and Myanmar, the Madagascar sucker-footed bat, and the lesser short-tailed bat from New Zealand.

Biomedical Implications and Genomic Research

Accounting for one fifth of all living mammals with over 1,500 species, bats play critical ecological roles by pollinating plants, dispersing seeds, and controlling insect populations. Beyond ecology, their unique biology offers significant value for biomedical research. Professor David Ray of Texas Tech University states that the volume of generated data allows scientists to track genomic variation, explaining the enormous diversity of bats and their unique traits. Ismael Galván of the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC) explains that reconstructing the genome of a flying mammal offers a solid framework to investigate genes responsible for traits such as longevity and disease resistance. Professor Sonja Vernes from the University of St. Andrews adds that researchers can now search for the genetic mechanisms allowing bats to host viruses without overt symptoms, with the long-term goal of designing bat-inspired approaches to improve human health.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did bats first originate?

Scientists estimate that bats originated approximately 65 million years ago during the late Palaeocene.

Where did the first bats evolve?

According to research published in Nature, bats arose in Europe before spreading to Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia.

What methodology did the Bat1K consortium use?

Researchers combined genome sequencing from 103 species with the study of 44 fossils, utilizing computational methods to build a reliable phylogenetic tree.

Why are bats important for biomedical research?

Many bat species exhibit exceptional longevity and the ability to host various viruses without showing disease symptoms, providing potential insights for human health.