The largest combined genome and fossil study of bats ever conducted places the origin of the flying mammals in Europe há cerca de 65 milhões de anos, following the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs. Researchers analyzed 103 species representing all 21 recognized bat families alongside 44 fossil specimens to construct a comprehensive family tree.
European Origins and the Post-Dinosaur Environment
Bats emerged on the European continent about one million years after an asteroid impact struck Earth 66 million years ago, a global cataclysm that allowed mammals to become the dominant terrestrial animals. From Europe, these mammals spread across the globe, reaching Africa relatively soon after to establish an early evolutionary center, according to evolutionary biologist Liliana Davalos of Stony Brook University. While Antarctica stands as the sole continent never inhabited by bats, today these animals account for more than a fifth of all global mammal species, with the oldest known fossils dating back aproximadamente 52 milhões de anos atrás.
Flight, Echolocation, and Nocturnal Dominance
Alongside flight, biological sonar known as echolocation evolved near the beginning of bat history, allowing the animals to move through darkness and track flying prey. This dual capability unlocked nocturnal ecological niches with less competition and fewer predators. “The flight took them into the air. Echolocation allowed them to dominate the night,” said Sonja Vernes, a biology professor at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and a co-leader of the study published in the journal Nature. University College Dublin zoology professor Emma Teeling added that echolocation prevented bats from competing directly with birds or facing predation from diurnal avian species active during the day.
Anatomy and Morphological Diversity
As the only mammals capable of powered flight alongside birds and pterosaurs—the latter of which failed to survive the asteroid impact—bats developed distinct wings formed from modified anterior limbs with elongated fingers supporting a large skin membrane. The exact appearance of their ancestors remains a mystery. “We don’t know for sure, but I believe they looked like tree shrews starting to develop long fingers. That’s just a guess, as all the oldest fossils look like modern bats,” Teeling noted. Today, bat species exhibit variations in diet and physical size, ranging from the giant golden-crowned flying fox of the Philippines with a 1.7-meter wingspan to the tiny bumblebee bat of Thailand and Myanmar spanning about 13 centimeters.
Did you know? While many bats are insectivorous, different species consume fruit, nectar, fish, and blood, demonstrating a range of ecological adaptations across the globe.
Implications for Human Health Research
Beyond ecological roles such as plant pollination and seed dispersal, many bat species display remarkable resistance to diseases and exceptionally long lifespans relative to their body size. The new genomic dataset establishes a foundational framework for future investigations into the genetic basis of these traits. Teeling indicated that this work could eventually contribute to human research concerning aging, immunity, and disease resistance.
Pro tip: Researchers note that finding transitional “pre-bat” fossils showing early anatomical adaptations for flight or echolocation will be the crucial next step in resolving whether flight or sonar evolved first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did bats first evolve?
According to the recent genomic and fossil study published in Nature, bats emerged in Europe há cerca de 65 milhões de anos before spreading globally.
What enabled bats to hunt at night?
The combination of powered flight and biological sonar, or echolocation, allowed bats to exploit nocturnal niches with less competition from daytime birds.
Are there any continents without bats?
Antarctica is the only continent on Earth that has never been inhabited by bats.
How do bat wings compare to bird wings?
Bat wings are constructed from modified front limbs with heavily elongated fingers that support a large skin membrane, differing structurally from the wings of birds and extinct pterosaurs.
What is the smallest known bat species?
The bumblebee bat, found in Thailand and Myanmar, is the smallest bat species, featuring a wingspan of roughly 13 centimeters.
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