Scientists Have Mapped Evolution of 103 Bat Species
A new genomic dataset reveals that bats originated in Europe 65 million years ago before spreading globally.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Life Sciences
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Researchers have compiled a comprehensive genomic dataset covering all 21 recognized bat families to trace their evolutionary history. The study indicates that bats first appeared in Europe 65 million years ago, later dispersing through Africa into Asia, the Americas, and Australia.
Why it matters
Understanding the deep history and unique biological traits of bats, including their extended lifespans compared to similar-sized mammals, provides a template for future research. Scientists intend to use this genomic data to develop new approaches for improving human health outcomes.
The study involved 137 scientists who analyzed 44 fossils and 103 genomes, including 41 newly created assemblies. The analysis focused on structural traits like echolocation, which emerged alongside true flight approximately 50 million years ago.
The players
Nature
Nature is a prominent international weekly journal of science that publishes peer-reviewed research across a wide range of scientific and technical disciplines.
Vielasia sigei
Vielasia sigei is an extinct bat species whose fossil remains provided evidence of the early development of sophisticated echolocation.
The details
By utilizing advanced DNA sequencing and computational techniques, researchers established a timeline for the emergence of key bat characteristics. The extinct species Vielasia sigei, discovered in Southern France, provided critical evidence of advanced echolocation capabilities within the evolutionary record.
Timeline
65 million years ago marks the origins of bats in Europe.
50 million years ago is when echolocation and flight evolved.
September 23, 2026, was the date the study was published in the journal Nature.
Deeper Dive
This research provides a new foundational framework for understanding mammalian evolution, updating the accepted timeline established by the 2026 Nature bat genomic study. By grounding theoretical models in 103 distinct genomes, the work moves beyond previous hypotheses regarding when and where bats dispersed globally.
This research could eventually lead to medical breakthroughs by helping scientists understand why bats possess significantly longer lifespans than other mammals of similar size. These insights into genetic longevity markers may influence future human health therapies and disease prevention strategies.
The takeaway
The study demonstrates that our understanding of evolutionary history remains subject to refinement through modern genomic sequencing. Future research into these findings may uncover how unique biological adaptations found in nature can be applied to human longevity.
Further reading
For more information on current evolutionary studies, visit our Life Sciences section.
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