Team pins down where bats originated
New research helps to resolve scientific debates about bat evolution and rewrites the bat family tree.
A massive study of bat genomes combined with fossil evidence has determined that bats originated in Europe around 65 million years ago, contrary to previous assumptions that they arose in Africa, Asia, or North America. The research, published in Nature, also reveals that the ability to echolocate and the capability of powered flight both evolved early in bat evolution, coinciding with their emergence.
This international collaboration, involving 137 researchers from 64 countries, analyzed data from 103 bat species and traits from 44 fossil species, making it the most comprehensive study of bat evolution to date. Bats, the only mammals capable of true flight, are now known to have spread rapidly from Europe to Africa and subsequently worldwide.
The study not only resolves long-standing debates about the origins of bats but also provides a detailed reconstruction of the genome of the common ancestor of all living bats, revealing the genetic makeup of a flight-capable mammal. This genomic resource will help scientists explore the genetic basis of other unique bat traits, such as disease resistance and exceptionally long lifespans, potentially offering insights into human health and longevity research.
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