Heroe or villain? The perception of the bat has been ambivalent for centuries. With the spread of the coronavirus the fear of murciélagos returned. But the history of the heraldic animal of Palma tells a completely different story. Actually the bat assumed the role of the dragon. This traditional symbol of power was used by the kings of Aragón. When Jaume I. conquered Mallorca in 1229 he carried a dragon on his helmet. Some suspect that the beast should not only make him appear more powerful…