New Research Suggests Bats Originated in Europe Around 65 Million Years Ago
Summary
A new study by the University of St Andrews suggests bats originated in Europe around 65 million years ago and later spread across the world. The research also indicates that flight and echolocation evolved early in bat history, opening new paths for studying longevity and disease resistance.
Key Points
- A University of St Andrews-led study of bat genomes and fossils suggests bats originated in Europe about 65 million years ago.
- The Bat1K consortium combined genomic and fossil evidence from 137 researchers across 64 countries to reconstruct bat evolution.
- The findings indicate that flight and echolocation emerged early, at the origin of bats, rather than later in their evolution.
- The genetic resource may help researchers study bat longevity, disease resistance, and possible links to human health.
