Facts about Echolocation in Bats

1. 06

   Prey-catching bats use echolocation calls that shorten in duration and increase in repetition rate during the final approach to a target, a phase called the terminal buzz.

   Echolocation in BatsJun 8sharebiologyhuntingacoustics
2. 05

   Some bat species emit echolocation calls at such high intensities that they temporarily deafen themselves by contracting middle ear muscles just before each pulse.

   Echolocation in BatsJun 7sharebiologyanatomysensory
3. 04

   In many bat species, the auditory cortex is dramatically enlarged relative to body size, reflecting the heavy neural investment required to process echolocation signals.

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4. 03

   The ultrasonic calls used in bat echolocation can reach frequencies above 100 kHz, far beyond the upper limit of human hearing at around 20 kHz.

   Echolocation in BatsJun 7sharebiologyacousticsperception
5. 02

   Most echolocating bats emit calls through their mouths, but some species, such as horseshoe bats, emit ultrasonic calls through their nostrils.

   Echolocation in BatsJun 7sharebiologyanatomymammals
6. 01

   Bats use echolocation by emitting ultrasonic pulses and interpreting the returning echoes to detect prey and navigate in complete darkness.

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