“Bats are blind”

The common belief that bats cannot see is a widespread misconception, but the truth is quite the opposite. All bat species possess eyes and are capable of sight. While many people associate bats with darkness and a lack of visual ability, this idea is far from accurate.

The origin of this myth likely stems from the popular idiom "blind as a bat" and observations of bats' nocturnal habits. Because many bats are active primarily at night, it's easy to assume they navigate solely by other means. However, their nighttime activity does not mean they are visually impaired; rather, it often means they have adapted to low-light conditions.

Scientifically, all bats have functional eyes. For instance, megabats, often called fruit (Review) bats or flying foxes, have large eyes and rely heavily on their excellent vision, along with a keen sense of smell, to locate fruit and nectar. Microbats, while famous for their sophisticated echolocation, also use their eyes. Echolocation is an incredible adaptation that allows them to "see" with sound in complete darkness, but it serves as a highly specialized supplementary sense rather than a replacement for vision.

Therefore, the enduring myth that bats are blind misrepresents their remarkable sensory capabilities. Their eyes are perfectly functional, and for many species, vision plays a crucial role in their survival and ability to thrive in various environments.