Are butterflies and bats closely related
The evolution causes the insects, animals, and mammals to develop different characteristics over time to thrive in their habitats. Scientists are looking into how butterflies relate to other insects and mammals like bats because they share similar adaptations. However, it is not essential that the two organisms with some common traits share the same history or are related.
Butterflies and bats are not closely related because they belong to different class, order, or taxonomical group, do not have common ancestors, have different habitats and feeding preferences, distinct morphology and anatomy, and varying active durations. Moreover, the butterflies and bats' wings are not homologous but analogous because they have different structures but perform the same function.
They diverged from each other millions of years ago, while some species relate closely with each other even after building a separate group or taxonomy. It is not simple to study the evolutionary relationship between different species and their ancestors because it involves the investigation of fossils that existed in ancient times.
Why are butterflies and bats not closely related?
Butterflies are closely related to moths, but some people also consider that they have a close relationship with bats. However, this is not true, as they are not closely related due to the following reasons.
1- Belong to different class and Taxonomy
Butterflies belong to the class Insecta and the order Lepidoptera, while bats are from the class Mammalian and order Chiroptera.
They do not belong to the same class or share a different taxonomy. For example, butterflies lay eggs and undergo complete metamorphosis to become adults and mate.
However, bats are mammals, and they do not lay eggs. They give birth to small pups like many other mammals therefore, there is no way these two species relate closely.
Animals or insects that share the same evolutionary existence and undergo the same life cycle are considered to relate to each other.
I studied their relationship and came to know that butterflies can relate to other flying insect species in their past. Similarly, bats share the same history with some other mammalian groups but do not have any close relation with each other.
2- No common ancestors
These colorful flying insects and bats do not share a common ancestor in the near past and diverged from each other millions of years ago. They have different ancestors and share different DNA when examined with their fossils.
For example, my friend told me that they have convergent evolution, such as emerging from different ancestors or unrelated to each other in the past but developing some common traits over time.
Moreover, butterflies have common ancestors with some other arthropod groups like moths and skippers, while bats have common ancestors with mammals like dogs and horses,
3- Different habitats and feeding preferences
Another basic reason for these two species to not closely relate with each other is a difference in their habitats and feeding preferences.
Once, I asked my neighbor about the evolutionary relationship between butterflies and these flying mammals, as he worked in a lepidopterist department for many years.
He told me some interesting facts about these two different organisms. He said they have no close relationship because they diverged from each other a long time ago.
They developed different habits and traits over time to survive according to the situations and circumstances.
He explained that bats prefer to live in caves and tree hollows, while these fascinating insects roost on the plants and dense vegetation.
Bats are carnivores and eat small insects, vertebrates, fruits, and small animals, but butterflies are herbivores and only feed on liquid food items, such as flower nectar, tree saps, and other fluid products.
Therefore, they do not deeply interconnected to each other and have different life activities and preferences to survive and live according to their habitats.
4- Different morphology or anatomy
They have different morphology and anatomy, which also gives a hint that they do not belong to each other, neither in the present nor in the past.
For example, butterflies have proboscis to suck the nectar to fill their stomach, while bats have sharp teeth to chew the food they eat.
Moreover, they possess fragile bodies and legs, and bats have hind and forelimbs to grasp insects and small vertebrates.
Therefore, the idea that they are closely related to each other has no strong facts or base due to a prominent distinction in their morphology.
5- Different active durations
Both species have different active durations, as butterflies are diurnal and forage or fly in the daytime, while bats are nocturnal and come out in the dark.
It shows that they do not have any relation, as they have different life patterns. Butterflies do not come out in the night because they do not have sharp eyesight and adaptations to locate mates and food in the dark.
However, bats can find mates and their food in the dark using a special adaptation known as echolocation.
Butterflies do not have vocals to produce such ultrasonic sounds therefore, they prefer to fly in the daytime. These facts cause them to diverge from each other and share no close relation.
Are butterflies and bats homologous (P)
Butterflies and bats' wings are not homologous because they emerge from a different origins. Homologous means the organs have the same structure or origin but differ in functions.
Once, my professor told me the exact meaning of homologous because I always think that these two species have homologous wings.
He told me that their wings perform the same function, such as flying, but they do not have the same structure. Therefore, it is not right to say butterflies and bats are homologous.
He further explained that the homologous structures pass down from the same ancestors, but they evolved to perform different functions in descendants.
Why are the wings of butterflies and bats called analogous (P)
The wings of butterflies and bats are called analogous because they perform the same function and are structurally different from each other.
For example, the butterfly wings are fragile and do not have bones. Their wings are formed with two protein layers called chitin and have thousands of colorful scales.
However, bats wings are formed of a membranous skin layer and have soft and stretched bones attached to the muscles. They do not have scales or patterns on their wings but use them for the same purpose as butterflies.
Analogous features are the body organs or parts that emerge from different structures but are specialized to perform the same function in different way. Therefore, their wings are called analogous.
Why do people consider butterflies and bats close relatives
Some people think bats and butterflies are closely related because of some common adaptations and traits they have
I read some common factors in these species, which make people think that they have a relation in the past or share common ancestors.
For example, both have wings and use them to take flight, migrate, and forage around their habitats. Moreover, butterflies and these flying mammals can pollinate the flowers and fruit pollens to longer distances.
However, it is not necessary for two species from different class and order to relate to each other if they have some common adaptations or perform a role in the ecosystem.
Can butterflies and bats coexist
Butterflies and bats can peacefully coexist in a habitat because these mammals do not attack or eat butterflies, as they have different foraging periods.
Bats forage at night when butterflies hide in plants and vegetation to avoid predation. Therefore, they do not cross paths and can coexist in a habitat.
However, some bat species can eat butterflies if they find them during their foraging hours because they do not hesitate to consume any insect they encounter to get energy.
Moreover, bats can eat moths if they encounter them during the daytime but prefer to eat crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, and many other insects.