A comprehensive new study analyzing the genomes and fossils of bats has reshaped understanding of their evolutionary history, suggesting these mammals originated in Europe around 65 million years ago. This finding challenges earlier theories that proposed origins in Africa, Asia, or North America. The research, involving more than 130 scientists from 64 countries as part of the Bat1K consortium, integrated genomic data from 103 bat species across all 21 recognized bat families with fossil evidence to reconstruct their global evolutionary tree.
Bats, which comprise roughly 1,500 species and represent over one-fifth of all mammal species, are unique for their powered flight and echolocation capabilities—traits that have long intrigued researchers. The new study indicates that echolocation, along with flight, likely evolved early at the root of all modern bats, contrary to previous suggestions that flight predated echolocation by several million years. Although the exact sequence of these evolutionary developments remains unresolved, the data implies both traits appeared near the origin of bats.
The expanded phylogenetic analysis prompted significant revisions of bat family relationships. For example, sucker-footed bats native to Madagascar, previously associated with mainly New World families, were repositioned within a superfamily that includes vesper bats, the most widespread group of bats worldwide. Furthermore, the vesper bat superfamily appears closely related to the sac-winged bats, a novel relationship that diverges from prior classifications.
Tracing their dispersal, the study proposes that bats first emerged in Europe before migrating to Africa and subsequently spreading to Asia, the Americas, and Australia. Fossil evidence, primarily dental specimens, was crucial to dating these evolutionary divergences and mapping global distribution patterns.
Beyond clarifying evolutionary origins, the research highlights bats’ exceptional biological features, such as their longevity, low incidence of cancer, and notable resistance to viruses. Despite being reservoirs for several zoonotic pathogens—including Ebola, Nipah, and Marburg viruses—bats rarely manifest illness. Earlier work based on Bat1K findings revealed immune system adaptations that may underlie this viral tolerance, which are believed to have evolved alongside key bat traits.
Scientists involved in the study emphasize the potential applications of these insights for human biomedical research, including new avenues for understanding ageing, immunity, and disease resistance. The genomic data generated serve as a “code book of life,” providing a foundation for exploring the genetic mechanisms behind bats’ remarkable physiology.
Conservation concerns also accompany the biological findings. Nearly one-fifth of bat species are listed as threatened, facing risks from habitat destruction, climate change, disease outbreaks such as white-nose syndrome, and human persecution. Given their ecological roles—pollinating plants, dispersing seeds, and controlling insect populations—scientists stress the importance of protecting bats to preserve ecosystem balance.
The study represents a major contribution to mammalian evolutionary biology and offers a comprehensive framework for further investigations into bats’ unique adaptations and their implications for health and conservation worldwide.