A new study published in the journal Nature reveals that modern bats originated in Europe approximately 65 million years ago, challenging long-held assumptions that the mammalian lineage first emerged in Asia, Africa, or the Americas. The research, conducted by the international Bat1K consortium, combines genome sequencing of 103 species with the analysis of 44 fossil specimens to trace the evolutionary history of bats back to the age of the dinosaurs.
According to the findings, the earliest ancestors of modern bats expanded outward from a European population into Africa, establishing a Euro-African core before eventually colonizing Asia, the Americas, and Australia.
Resolving a Decades-Long Geographic Debate
For decades, scientists debated the geographic roots of bats due to conflicting fossil evidence.
Ismael Galván, a researcher at the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Spain, noted that this project marks the first time the genome of a flying mammal has been reconstructed. The resulting phylogenetic tree provides a solid framework for investigating the genetic drivers behind distinctive bat traits.
The Rapid Rise of Flight and Echolocation
Data from the study indicate that powered flight and echolocation—the twin biological pillars of the order—did not evolve incrementally over millions of years. Instead, both traits appeared near the very origin of the lineage. The placement of the fossil genus Vielasia, recognized as an ancestral form of modern bats, on the oldest branch of the family tree supports this conclusion.
Sampling Rare Species From Remote Habitats
To build a comprehensive genetic library, the research team sampled uncommon species from remote habitats across the globe. These included the bumblebee bat of Thailand and Myanmar, one of the world’s smallest mammals; the Madagascar sucker-footed bat, which utilizes specialized suction cups to cling to smooth leaves; and New Zealand’s lesser short-tailed bat, which navigates the forest floor using its folded wings as forelegs.
David Ray, a researcher at Texas Tech University, explained that the high volume of generated genomic data allows scientists to track minute genetic variations across lineages. These variations help explain why bats currently account for roughly one-fifth of all living mammal species, with over 1,500 distinct varieties distributed worldwide.
Unlocking Biomedical Secrets for Human Health
Beyond establishing evolutionary origins, the Bat1K dataset offers new avenues for biomedical investigation. Bats play critical ecological roles as pollinators, seed dispersers, and insect controllers, but they also exhibit unusual physiological traits, including extreme longevity relative to their body size and a high tolerance for dangerous pathogens.
Sarah Olson, director of health research at the Wildlife Conservation Society and a study co-author, described the genomic data as a foundational "code book of life." Researchers aim to study how bats maintain resistance to zoonotic viruses such as Ebola, Marburg, and Nipah without falling ill. Insights gained from these genetic adaptations could eventually inform human therapies targeting aging, immune function, and disease resistance.