Evolution of Carnivorous Bats

This article, written by Bob Yirka, discusses the newly discovered evolutionary past of carnivorous bats. The prominent question in this article is, what evolutionary changes did bats go through to get them to become carnivorous. Thus, the scientists researching the topic gained access to 140 bat skulls: representing 35 different species. They examined them by using a procedure called geometric morphometrics. This is a process in which “spatial landmarks are used to note features independent of the overall size of the object under study”. After this, they examined their data and concluded that carnivorous bats in fact are larger than other bats. They also have longer snouts which makes taking down prey easier. Secondly, it makes it easier for them to close their jaws which is pretty useful when trying to capture something that is running away from you. Conversely, these scientists discovered another species of bats that eat fish all tended to have slightly shorter and wider snouts which typically projected slightly upwards, making it easier to capture and hold wet, slippery fish. The most striking concept to the researches was that after centuries of separation, these bats all had adaptations for the same thing: their prey.

When I read this article, it reminded me exactly of Darwin’s finches. They all eventually adapted to their own region on the Galapagos according to food. Thus, this article talks of bats each adapting for their food source to help them survive. Also like the finches, the bats display survival of the fittest. All the bats which needed meat, had long snouts and were larger to help them chomp on their prey with a stronger bite force. The fish-eating bats had snouts which curled up at the end to help scoop and hold their fish. If these two species switched places, it is likely that they would not be as healthy or successful in their new habitats. The bats that survived are the one’s with the proper adaptation, so once they survived