An unexpected discovery overturns conventional ideas: the largest study of genomes and fossils in history indicates that bats, the only flying mammals, most likely appeared in Europe about 65 million years ago, shortly after the mass extinction of the dinosaurs.
An international team of 137 scientists from 64 countries, working within the Bat1K consortium, combined data on 103 genomes of modern species and 44 fossil specimens. A new method of jointly analysing genetics and palaeontology made it possible to determine the place and time of origin more precisely, refuting earlier hypotheses about Asian, African or North American roots. According to the results published in the journal Nature, the first bats dispersed from Europe to Africa, and from there further around the world.
The study shows that echolocation and the ability for active flight arose very early, practically at the very origins of the group. This explains the astonishing success of bats: more than 1500 species, a fifth of all mammals, live on every continent and play key roles in ecosystems — pollinating plants, dispersing seeds and controlling insect populations.
Of particular importance is the reconstruction of the genome of the ancestor of all modern bats. It provides a basis for studying the genetic mechanisms behind their exceptional resistance to disease and their longevity. Such traits may in the future help to understand analogous processes in humans, but for now this is only a promising avenue of research.
The work relies on specimens collected over decades in the most remote corners of the planet, including extremely rare species such as Thailand's bumblebee bats or Madagascar's sucker-footed bats. Global cooperation between field biologists and geneticists has made possible what once seemed unattainable.
This discovery is a reminder of how important it is to preserve the diversity of bats and their habitats, so that we can continue to unlock the secrets of evolution and use the knowledge gained to protect nature and human health.
