New genomic and fossil research indicates that bats originated in Europe during the late Paleocene, roughly 65 to 60 million years ago, following the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs. An international team of 137 researchers from 64 countries analyzed 103 genomes covering all 21 recognized bat families alongside 44 fossil bats through the Bat1K consortium, reshaping the evolutionary history of the world’s only mammals capable of true powered flight.
Genomic Analysis and the European Origin of Bats
For decades, scientists debated whether bats first appeared in Africa, Asia, North America, or Europe. To resolve the question, the Bat1K consortium sequenced and compared 42 newly generated chromosome-level assemblies alongside existing genomes, according to findings published in Nature. The combined data point to Europe as the initial birthplace of bats roughly one million years after the asteroid impact 66 million years ago. From Europe, ancestral bats moved into Africa before separate groups diversified and expanded into the Americas, Asia, and Australia.
Early Emergence of Flight and Echolocation
The study also sheds light on the rapid development of bats’ defining physical traits. By examining the fossil bat Vielasia, which occupies the oldest branch on the bat family tree, researchers determined that echolocation appeared near the dawn of bat evolution. Co-founding Director of Bat1K Professor Emma Teeling of University College Dublin noted that the combination of flight and biological sonar allowed bats to exploit nocturnal niches with fewer competitors and predators. Professor Sonja Vernes of the University of St Andrews explained that echolocation enabled bats to navigate in the dark without competing directly with diurnal birds.
Resolving Evolutionary Debates Through the X Chromosome
Reconstructing the global bat family tree presented a major challenge because early lineages frequently exchanged genes, leaving conflicting signals across different genomic regions. Researchers discovered that a specific segment of the X chromosome preserved an unusually clear record of ancestral relationships. This genetic marker allowed the team to untangle disputed lineages and map out how modern bats grew to represent roughly one-fifth of all living mammal species today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bat Evolution
When and where did bats first evolve?
According to research published in Nature, bats most likely originated in Europe during the late Paleocene, approximately 65 to 60 million years ago, in the aftermath of the mass extinction event that ended the Cretaceous period.
How many bat species and families exist today?
There are more than 1,500 living bat species distributed across 21 recognized families, accounting for roughly one-fifth of all mammal species on Earth.
Did flight or echolocation evolve first in bats?
The oldest bat fossils and genomic reconstructions indicate that both powered flight and echolocation emerged very early near the beginning of bat evolution, before modern lineages began to diversify.