The Malaysian Fruit Bat Bats have inhabited the Earth for about the last 50 million years. The earliest fossils of the species found bare a remarkable resemblance to the bats of today. The ancestry of bats is thought to be similar to that of primates. This is highly attributed to their offsprings' dependence upon nurturing and nursing which is accomplished through a pair of pectoral breasts. These were the factors which led Linnaeus, the father of modern taxonomy, to link the two species.
Bats vary in their physical make-up.
Some have long, angora-like fur, while others are furless. They range in color from red or yellow to jet black or white. One species is endowed with pink wings and ears. Another, known as Butterfly bats, have bright, intricate patterns. Their ears are tiny for some and huge on others.