North American bats glow under UV light
North American bats glow under UV light, study finds.
Why it matters
- Confirmation of biofluorescence in bats.
- Suggests a common evolutionary origin due to consistent glow across species.
By the numbers
- 60 museum specimens examined.
- 6 species of bats showed consistent green glow.
- Glow located on wings, hind limbs, and leg membranes.
The big picture
- Biofluorescence may be more common in mammals than previously thought.
- Trait might have had a functional role in evolutionary past.
What they're saying
- Some skepticism about the study's relevance.
- Questions about why this trait was studied.
Caveats
- Study conducted on museum specimens, not live bats.
- Functional significance of biofluorescence in live bats unknown.
What’s next
- Study live bats to understand the functional significance of biofluorescence.