A large genome study using bat reference genomes and fossils has produced a revised evolutionary family tree for bats, indicating their origins in Europe.

What it means

The Bat1K consortium, a global research network, has published the largest-ever combined bat genome and fossil study, analyzing 103 bat species' genomes. By integrating these data with fossil records using new analytical methods, the study resolves longstanding debates in bat evolution and revises the entire bat family tree. The key finding is that bats likely originated in Europe around 65 million years ago, rather than in the tropics, overturning previous hypotheses.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is based on a peer-reviewed study published in Nature (DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-11007-3), which is directly reported by reputable news outlets. The reporting accurately reflects the study's methods and conclusions, and the study itself is a primary source. The provenance tier confirms that the news item reports a named primary source, so the claim is solid.

How new

Genuinely new; the study and resulting news coverage were published on September 23, 2026.

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