Bats Are Not Blind

The popular phrase "blind as a bat" has done a great disservice to these remarkable flying mammals. This misconception likely arose in ancient times, as observers like the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder noted bats' erratic, fluttering flight in the dim light of dusk and dawn and incorrectly assumed they had poor or nonexistent vision. Their nocturnal habits and mysterious nature only fueled the folklore, cementing a myth that has persisted for centuries.

In reality, every one of the more than 1,400 bat species possesses the ability to see. For many, vision is the primary sense. The large flying foxes, or fruit bats, for instance, have massive eyes that are highly adapted for seeing in low-light conditions. They navigate their world much like an owl, using their keen night vision and a sharp sense of smell to locate fruit and nectar-filled flowers, forgoing echolocation almost entirely.

Even for the bat species that famously use echolocation, sight remains a crucial tool. This sophisticated biological sonar is perfect for pinpointing a tiny, fast-moving insect in complete darkness, but vision is used for long-distance navigation and for spotting large obstacles like trees and buildings. Rather than a replacement for sight, echolocation is a powerful supplement, giving these creatures a multi-sensory advantage in the night sky.