Bat biologists have long known about the exceptional longevity of bats (Order: Chiroptera),
which is unusual for mammals of such a small size and a high metabolic rate. Yet relatively …

The evolutionary theory of aging predicts that life span should decrease in response to the
amount of mortality caused by extrinsic sources. Using this prediction, we selected six life …

Bats and birds live substantially longer on average than non-flying mammals of similar body
size. The combination of small body size, high metabolic rates, and long lifespan in bats and …

A new longevity record has been established for a free-living bat—41 years for a male
Brandt's bat, Myotis brandtii. The exceptional longevity of bats generally, and this species in …

Laboratory models have suggested a link between metabolism and life span in vertebrates,
and it is well known that the evolution of specific life histories can be driven by metabolic …

This study compared trends in body size, life span, metabolic rate, and ecology of bats and
marsupials with those from mammals generally, using a 580 species data base. The linear …

Bats are remarkably long-lived with lifespans exceeding even those of same-sized birds.
Despite a recent interest in the extraordinary longevity of bats very little is known about the …

The extended longevity of bats, despite their high metabolic rate, may provide insight to
patterns and mechanisms of aging. Here I test predictions of the free radical or oxidative …

Bats live longer than similar-sized mammals, but the number of lineages that have
independently evolved extreme longevity has not previously been determined. Here we …

Whether species can cope with environmental change depends considerably on their life
history. Bats have long lifespans and low reproductive rates which make them vulnerable to …