An international study published in Nature has used genomic data and fossil evidence to reconstruct the evolutionary history of bats, concluding that the animals and their ability to fly likely originated in Europe. The research, part of the first phase of the Bat1K global effort, analyzed chromosome-level genome assemblies from 103 living species representing all 21 recognized bat families.
These genomic records were combined with the largest morphological data set of living and extinct bats assembled to date, including 44 fossils.
The study utilized a region of the X chromosome previously identified by researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) as a genetic “time capsule.” This approach allowed the team to resolve long-standing disputes regarding bat relationships, such as placing Madagascar’s sucker-footed bats as the earliest branch of a major group that includes evening bats and free-tailed bats.
According to the findings, bats and powered flight most likely originated in Europe during the late Paleocene, more than 56 million years ago. The research also indicates that echolocation emerged before modern bats began to diversify. The study provides a new framework for investigating other bat traits, including longevity and disease resistance.
Dr. Nicole Foley, an assistant professor in the VMBS’ Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences and member of the Texas A&M Center for Comparative Genomics, described the paper as a starting point for future research. “It provides a broad picture of bat evolution — what their genomes and chromosomes look like, how they evolved, and when those changes occurred,” Foley said. “Future studies can use that foundation to explore specific aspects of bat biology in greater detail.”
