Landmark bat DNA study rewrites the origins of bat evolution

The Bat1K project assembled 103 bat genomes and 44 fossils, the largest dataset of its kind. The analysis suggests bats arose in Europe around 65 million years ago, with echolocation and true flight evolving early, roughly 50 million years ago.

• 103 genomes and 44 fossils form the largest bat dataset to date
• Bats likely originated in Europe about 65 million years ago
• Echolocation and true flight evolved early, around 50 million years ago
• 137 scientists from the Bat1K project took part in the study