25 Common Beliefs That Are Totally Wrong

Bats Cannot See

Advertisement

Bats and Vision The saying "blind as a bat" has tricked many into thinking bats can’t see, relying only on echolocation. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Most bats have working eyesight, and some boast amazing night vision for navigating in dim light. Echolocation is a fantastic skill, but it’s not a substitute for sight—it’s a bonus. Bats send out high-pitched sounds that bounce back as echoes, letting them "see" with sound. This helps in total darkness where vision falls short.

Curiously, bats’ eyesight matches their needs. Fruit bats, for instance, have bigger eyes and better color vision to spot ripe fruit, unlike insect-eating bats. The blindness myth likely comes from their nighttime habits, but bats actually wield a powerful mix of senses to dominate their world.