Do Bats Have an Evolutionary History Rooted in Myth or Science?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gear300
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    History Science
Click For Summary
The discussion centers on the evolutionary understanding of bats compared to humans. It highlights that humans did not evolve from primates but share a common ancestor with them, as well as with bats, emphasizing that both species are part of the mammalian lineage. The conversation questions the completeness of evolutionary understanding for bats, suggesting that all organisms have incomplete family trees. Participants express curiosity about the scientific evidence surrounding bat origins, with references to articles like one from The Smithsonian. Additionally, there is a tangent discussing the practical advantages of bats in combat scenarios, noting their effectiveness compared to other weapons in low-tech environments.
Gear300
Messages
1,209
Reaction score
9
From where I stand, human evolution from primates is more evidence-based and storied than our understanding of bats. Do we have an evolutionary understanding of bats? Or are their origins still more myth than science?
 
Biology news on Phys.org
Did you find anything while searching for 'bat fossil'?
 
  • Like
Likes russ_watters and BillTre
Rive said:
Did you find anything while searching for 'bat fossil'?
Found this article published in The Smithsonian. I'll give it a read.
 
Humans did not evolve from primates. Humans are part of the primate family (Hominidae). All members of the primate family evolved from a common ancestor.

Humans and bats - both mammals - also share a common ancestor. It doesn't mean one evolved from the other.
 
  • Like
Likes jim mcnamara, pinball1970, russ_watters and 2 others
Gear300 said:
Do we have an evolutionary understanding of bats?
Do we have an evolutionary understanding of anything? Every organism has an incomplete family tree. Where do you draw the line between :"understanding" and "not understabding"?
 
  • Like
Likes Astronuc, russ_watters and BillTre
Gear300 said:
Do we have an evolutionary understanding of bats? Or are their origins still more myth than science?
Bats seem very fit for close combat where it outperforms say bows, a good step up from a fist, yet easy to manufacture, handle and maintain, compared to a sword that needs continous sharpening and a bit more skill to use. A good balance between simplicity, resources and function in the context of a low tech environment 😁

/Fredrik
 
  • Haha
Likes Gear300 and Tom.G
Thread 'Magnetoreception in Animals'
For more than a hundred years people have been intrigued by how animals are able to do certain navigating tasks so well. Being able to sense magnetic fields has been one of several clues animals could use to figure out where they should go. Among possible magnetic sensory mechanisms have been: light sensitive proteins (cryptochromes) in the retina that can also react to magnetic fields. Microscopic magnetite crystals on found in various areas of the body (often the nose near nerves) A new...

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 97 ·
4
Replies
97
Views
9K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
40
Views
5K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
6K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
7K