ASU Researchers Trace Bat Origins to Europe
A new evolutionary study reveals that bats likely first emerged between 66 million and 56 million years ago.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Life Sciences
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Arizona State University researchers have published a study detailing the evolutionary history of bats. By analyzing genomic data and fossil records, the team traced the origins of the mammal group to Europe during the Paleocene period.
Why it matters
The study provides a necessary framework for scientists to better investigate the evolution of key biological traits, such as flight and echolocation. Understanding this lineage helps clarify how bats became one of the most diverse groups of mammals.
The study utilized a comprehensive dataset of 103 living species and physical measurements from fossilized bone and tooth structures. Researchers focused on the Paleocene period, roughly 66 million to 56 million years ago, to anchor their findings.
The players
Arizona State University
This is a public research university based in Tempe that conducts extensive scientific investigations across various disciplines.
The details
Researchers combined DNA data with anatomical comparisons of teeth and bones to build an evolutionary framework for the species. The findings suggest that echolocation is a complex trait that may have been lost repeatedly over the course of bat history.
Timeline
Bats likely originated between 66 million and 56 million years ago.
The study findings were published on October 30, 2026.
The Big Picture
The research follows the methodology established by the Tree of Life project to map the evolutionary connections of diverse species. By clarifying the bat family tree, the study challenges previous assumptions about the persistence of echolocation in mammalian evolution.
While this study advances evolutionary science, it does not have an immediate impact on consumer technology or daily routines. However, the data helps scientists better understand mammalian biodiversity, which can inform future ecological conservation efforts.
The takeaway
Bats represent 1 in 5 of all living mammal species, making them a critical component of global ecosystems. This research emphasizes that traits like echolocation are not static and have evolved in complex ways over millions of years.
Further reading
For more on recent biological findings, visit the Life Sciences section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KJZZ.
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