Abstract
The need for an updated review of echolocation is obvious in light of the rapid development in the field. Equipment has improved dramatically to allow unprecedented level of control also in field experiments. Also, the active acoustic orientation of bats and dolphins provide a unique window into adaptive perception processes, making echolocators attractive models for studies of acoustic scene analysis. Bats and whales comprise almost a fourth of all mammals and the diversity of echolocation signals reflects diversity in habitat and behavior. There are substantial differences between the two groups: (1) Sound production is done by bats in the larynx and by whales with phonic lips in their nasal passages; (2) the media they live in, air and water, differ strongly in density and sound transmission properties; and (3) the sizes of most echolocating bats is less than 100 g, while odontocetes range from 50 to 25,000 kg. However, the similarities of their echolocation are striking: Both bats and whales emit short directional pulses, with most energy in the ultrasonic frequency range below 200 kHz. The outgoing pulse as well as hearing sensitivity are constantly adapted to target range through active motor feedback. Thus, the echolocating bats and whales comprise an extraordinary example of convergent evolution.
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Surlykke, A., Nachtigall, P.E. (2014). Biosonar of Bats and Toothed Whales: An Overview. In: Surlykke, A., Nachtigall, P., Fay, R., Popper, A. (eds) Biosonar. Springer Handbook of Auditory Research, vol 51. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9146-0_1
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