When someone utters the phrase ‘blind as a bat’ they likely intend to describe a state of disorientation or poor vision. Either that or they do not realize that bats can see just as good with their eyes. However, the phrase is not only misleading but also entirely inaccurate. It is unknown how the phrase came to be and got circulating. Contrary to that popular belief, bats are not blind. They can see very well with both their eyes. In fact, depending on the species, bats can see with their eyes and quite well! It's time to downplay the myth about them. Their vision plays a crucial role in their survival. Bat eyes perform the function of vision really effectively.
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| This stamp from Moldova in 1999 has bat images due to folklore |
Table of contents
The myth’s origins
The misconception that bats are blind likely stems from their nocturnal habits and reliance on echolocation. They respond better with these capabilities than relying on their vision. Observers noted their ability to navigate in complete darkness and assumed their eyes were ineffective or vestigial. They cannot be blamed given how back then science wasn't as developed as it is today. This assumption was compounded by the small size of bat eyes in many species leading people to believe their vision was negligible. Word spreads fast. Additionally, bats' erratic flight patterns contributed to the belief that they were flying blindly. One would easily assume that they couldn't see. Their flight patterns can seem unpredictable to the human eye. Since we are pattern-seeking animals, we tend to project a trajectory of flight onto them. These factors, coupled with cultural folklore and language idioms, buried the myth into public consciousness. But as time rolls on, myths are beginning to disappear too.
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| Vampire bite is taken from vampire bats biting cattle for drawing nutrition from their blood |
Because they are rarely seen during the day and often use high-frequency sounds to find their way in the dark, it’s easy to assume their vision is redundant. Yes, we can see bats outside only during dusk or dawn when daylights are dim. However, this could not be further from the truth. Stories began to be made on them. Some stories in folklore painted bats as mysterious and even sinister creatures. They had been clothed in unique aura vis-a-vis other animals. For instance, in certain European legends, bats were associated with witches and considered omens of darkness. They meant evil and trouble from which nothing good could come. Since they live in dark places, it bolstered their bad reputation and horror stories. These tales, while entertaining, didn’t help bats’ PR when it came to their visual capabilities. Some still think they are blind even after being deciphered to not be. Bats have become a misunderstood creature due to all these factors at play. Modern times has been struggling to give them the deserved credit.
Dispelling the "blind as a bat" myth
The phrase ‘blind as a bat’ couldn’t be more misleading! That is because it is totally wrong. Bats have evolved over millions of years to become masters of nocturnal navigation and their vision plays an integral role in their procreation and survival. They are biological marvels. It’s important to appreciate the sophisticated adaptations that allow these creatures to thrive in their respective habitats. In ways, they are supremely equipped with vision. Here are some quick facts to highlight their visual capabilities…
Fruit bats have colour vision similar to humans which helps them locate nectar-rich flowers and ripe fruits. They can distinguish some colours and textures just as good as us.
Microbats can detect ultraviolet light which helps them in recognising reflective surfaces and subtle changes in their environment. UV light is invisible to the human eyes which makes these bats better than us in vision.
Bats are not dependent on light alone and they seamlessly switch between echolocation and vision depending on convenience and environmental conditions. Meaning, they can choose how they want to see at will.
Debunking other myths about bats
The myth of blindness is just one of many misconceptions about bats. They just have to be put away. Here are a few others that deserve clarification…
Bats can get tangled in hair – Bats are highly agile flyers and have excellent spatial awareness. They efficiently avoid running into anything during flights. They are unlikely to accidentally collide with humans let alone get tangled in your hair. Hence, that is purely a myth. The idea of a bat intentionally targeting someone’s coiffure is the stuff of slapstick comedy or a work of prank and not actual biology. It's not like they don't encounter hair-like objects in nature at all and they don't know hair. |
All bats drink blood – Only three species of bats are vampire bats and they feed primarily on the blood of animals like cattle or livestock. Humans are barely on their menu. The vast majority of bats are frugivorous, insectivorous or nectarivorous. Meaning, they don't feed on blood for survival. Vampire bats (while infamous) are just a tiny fraction of the bat family. A chance of running into them or vice-versa is very very minimal.
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| Upclose face of a vampire bat |
Bats are dangerous or dirty – While bats can carry diseases like rabies, they play a vital role in ecosystems by pollinating plants, controlling insect populations and dispersing seeds. They are more of use to the environment than be a danger or parasitic to humans. Proper education and precautions can help mitigate such risks without demonising these creatures. Proper precautions can help keep them and us from interacting with each other.
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Why do bats need good vision anyway?
Foraging – Certain bats, especially fruit bats, rely on their vision to locate their food. Colours and textures will help them reach fruits instead of something else. Their ability to discern colours and shapes helps them identify blooming flowers or ripe fruits which may not be easily detectable through echolocation alone. So, they'd have to put away echolocation for direct vision in such cases. Imagine a bat named Barry on a mission to find a mango tree. He wants mango and nothing else. With his sharp eyes scanning for the golden glow of ripe fruit and his echolocation guiding him through dense branches, Barry is an unstoppable until he strips the tree of all it’s mangoes. Lucky fella!Navigation – Bats often travel long distances between feeding grounds and roosting sites. They need to actually see their way in the air. Visual cues such as familiar landscape features or the position of the moon, play a crucial role in navigation especially for species that migrate. Echolocations can fail in identifying places during migration because of changing landscapes.
Social interaction – Vision is also essential for recognising other bats within a colony. Nothing more precise in life than visual marks, no? In species where social behaviour is complex such as in flying foxes, visual recognition helps maintain group cohesion and hierarchical structures. Hence, bats need vision from their eyes to register who is who in their memories. Picture a bat reunion where they’re not just using sound but giving each other approving glances. Funny!
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| Bats have formed a social colony inside Puthia Rajburi which is a historial palace in Bangladesh |
Facts about bat vision – The anatomy
The eyes of all bats are actually functional. This is anatomically a fact. Bats are like all mammals. Just like you and me. All bats, regardless of species, have eyes that they use for vision. They all need it, have it and cannot reject it. While their eyes may not be as large or prominent as those of some other mammals, they are by no means ineffective. They are just as functional. They have eyes that are adapted to their specific needs. Evolution is a remarkable thing. In fact, many bats have eyes adapted to their specific ecological needs that allows them to see well in their natural environments. They needn't rely solely on their other mapping capabilities. Their eyes may vary in size depending on the species. Some are tiny while some are normal for their sizes. Bats are an incredibly diverse group with over 1,400 species divided into two main suborders…
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| A grey-headed flying fox is a good example of megabats |
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| Small fruit bats are examples of microbats |
Retinal structure – Most bats are crepuscular or
nocturnal, meaning they are active during twilight or nighttime. You can find them in the open during dawn or dusk. The retina in
a bat's eye contains a high density of rod cells which are highly sensitive to
dim light. This helps them see clearly under low lights. Rod cells are photoreceptor cells in the retina that detect light
intensity and motion. It'd make for excellent vision in dim areas. This adaptation allows bats to see in low-light
conditions and makes them excellent at navigating during twilight or moonlit
nights. Truly a marvel of evolution in bats' eyes. However, the amount of cone cells which are responsible for colour
vision varies among species. They aren't as dense. Some bats can see in colour while others rely
more heavily on shades of grey…albeit in shades of grey rather than vibrant
colours. Kinda tricky to understand.
Here’s an amusing titbit – A bat’s eyes are so well-suited to it’s environment that some species might actually scoff at us humans for our reliance on contact lenses and glasses. They might find us goofy. Imagine a bat holding a tiny optometrist’s chart “Can you see the E? Good, now spot that moth at 50 metres!” And then roar in laughter at us. Imagine you’re a bat that’s swooping through a moonlit forest. You are flying fine out-manoevering every obstacle. While humans would be tripping over tree roots, you’d effortlessly glide between branches spotting a ripe fruit hanging delicately from a tree – a midnight snack served by Mother Nature herself, huh? Makes me want to be a bat now.
How good is the bat vision?
Bats’ vision is not only functional but exceptionally sharp in some cases. They outperform sometimes. Research has shown that certain species of bats (particularly fruit bats) have visual acuity comparable to humans in daylight. Compared to them, we are huge yet they have an ability just like us. Some bats are also thought to have UV-sensitive vision which helps them detect flowers and fruits that reflect ultraviolet light outwards. This makes it convenient for them to locate food source.
For insectivorous bats that hunt at night, their eyesight is not as sharp as that of daytime animals but it is also perfectly built for detecting shadows, shapes and movement in dim light. That kind of gives an edge to the bat in either find food or evading predators. Their visual ability complements echolocation by providing a dual system for navigating their environment. Wish evolution gave us something like that but let's not be greedy.
Echolocation + vision – A powerful duo of complementary tools
One of the most remarkable features of bats is their ability to combine or switch between echolocation and vision. Like a flipswitch between functions. While echolocation is their primary tool for avoiding obstacles in complete darkness and hunting, their eyes provide critical supplementary information. Both function to provide the animal an excellent life fit for survival in the wild.
How do bats integrate both senses? For microbats, echolocation and vision work in tandem. Meaning they can use both at once. Echolocation gives them detailed three-dimensional information about their surroundings while their eyes help them gauge distances and recognise landmarks. What an excellent ability! We can only do this with machines. This dual capability is particularly important during long migrations or when navigating through complex landscapes. Both skills come to play in environments like those.
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| How bat's echolocation works |
A common misconception is that bats use echolocation instead of vision. No, this is somewhat true only. In reality, bats use both senses, often complementing each other depending on the situation. They have this inate ability to alternate between both.
Vision – While echolocation is precise, it has limitations esp. in detecting stationary objects or over long distances. It's not the finest of capacities. Vision fills these gaps by enabling bats to identify food sources during moonlight or twilight, orient themselves and recognise landmarks. The bat is left with no choice than engage direct vision.
Fun fact – Some bats’ echolocation is so precise they can detect a tiny insect’s wing flutter from metres away. That's a remarkable feat for their size. Combine this with sharp vision and you have a creature that’s practically a superhero of the animal kingdom. Don't you want to be a bat? Jk.
Appreciation, conservation and understanding of bat vision
Understanding the truth about bats’ vision is crucial for their conservation. One does not have to dismiss it away a blind or an unimportant creature. Many bat species face threats from climate change, habitat loss and human activities. These threats are legit. Dispelling myths can foster a greater appreciation for their ecological importance and encourage efforts to protect them. They are useful and contribute to the wellness of nature. Understanding bat vision is not just a matter of correcting a myth but it has real-world implications for conservation. Their progression is just as critical as any other animal. As humans encroach on natural habitats and introduce artificial lighting, bats face significant challenges. Our intervention into nature is causing them difficulties along with other animals. Excessive light pollution can disorient bats and disrupt their natural behaviours including breeding and hunting. They have to alter from their natural state to to accommodate us into their environments.
For instance, bats play a critical role in agriculture by controlling pest populations and pollinating crops like agave (used to make tequila), bananas and mangoes. They feed on pests and keep our farms free from pests. Recognising their contributions helps shift the narrative from fear to fascination. Of course, that'd discourage bat-haters and bat-killers from continuing what they do. By knowing that bats rely on both their echolocation and vision, conservationists can take steps to mitigate the impact of artificial lighting. Inventors can come up with bat-friendly items which don't pose threats to their survival. For example, using bat-friendly lighting or preserving dark corridors in urban areas can help ensure that bats continue to thrive. Such measures help converse bat numbers in the wild.
Conclusion | Final thoughts
The notion that bats are blind is a myth that has persisted far too long. One must realize that they aren't blind and these myths were made up by primitive people. Bats are extraordinary creatures with a unique blend of senses that allow them to hunt, navigate and survive in diverse environments. They are vital to nature. Their vision is far from being redundant. On the contrary, they have better vision than other flying mammals. From echolocation to low-light vision and UV sensitivity, these creatures have evolved to thrive in their environments with unparalleled efficiency. To become an efficient survivor, these instruments of evolution had pushed them ahead. It is a vital part of their sensory toolkit. Without these abilities, they are just another animal in the kingdom. By dispelling the myth of bat blindness, we can foster a deeper appreciation for these fascinating mammals. They aren't dangerous or dirty as is the narrative. As we learn more about bats, it becomes evident that they are not only fascinating but also essential to the balance of nature. Bats have an important role in pollination and wiping out pests that destroy our crops. By debunking myths and embracing the science, we can pave the way for a future where bats are celebrated rather than misunderstood. It's high time in the 20th century that bats are not given any more bad reputation.
We ought to encourage the efforts to protect their habitats. Without bats, there can be so many problems that might affect even us. So, the next time you hear someone say ‘blind as a bat’ feel free to confidently set the record straight that...“Actually, bats can see quite well!”
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