Observed records

Living genomes

103 chromosome-level genomes cover all 21 recognized living bat families and reveal relationships, conflicting gene histories and ancient mixing.

Kinship survives; a Palaeocene address does not.
Fossils and anatomy

699 anatomical characters were scored across 65 species, including 44 pre-Quaternary fossils with ages and geographic locations.

Place and time survive; the record remains incomplete.
Family-tree, dating and biogeographic models combine the records
Model-supported inference

Late PalaeoceneEurope

What it supportsThe region and period that best fit the combined evidence.
What it does not revealA fossil of the first bat, or a complete sequence for the origins of flight and echolocation.