Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel - April 06, 2025 A new study from Tel Aviv University shows that the Greater Mouse-Tailed Bat uses its long tail to navigate backward in dark caves. The tail acts like a tactile sensor, helping the bat avoid obstacles and move in complex spaces when vision and echolocation are limited. Researchers found that numbing the tail with anesthetic slowed the bats’ movement. Their ability to crawl backward and avoid obstacles dropped, proving the tail’s role in navigation. The study was led by Sahar Hajyahia and Mor Taub under Prof. Yossi Yovel. Prof. Yossi Yovel said the bats climbed a vertical maze backward while tracked by an advanced system. They swung their tails side to side, like a blind person’s cane, to detect obstacles and climb safely. When numbed, climbing took 10% longer, and the bats moved sideways more. The bats also used their tails to sense textures. They could tell apart a fine wooden grid from a sparser one, showing the tail’s sensitivity. This ability helps them navigate their surroundings with precision. Prof. Yovel noted that most bats have short tails, but the Greater Mouse-Tailed Bat’s long, free tail is unique. It’s the only bat known to use its tail this way. He said it’s an evolutionary adaptation for moving backward in dark, crowded spaces. The discovery could lead to new research on how animals use tails as sensors. It may also inspire tech advances, like robotic systems for navigating tricky environments, based on this natural design.