Journal of comparative physiology

, Volume 150, Issue 4, pp 413–418 | Cite as

Behavioral responses of the frog-eating bat,Trachops cirrhosus, to sonic frequencies

  • Michael J. Ryan
  • Merlin D. Tuttle
  • Robert M. R. Barclay
Article
Accepted:

Summary

The frog-eating bat,Trachops cirrhosus (Phyllostomatidae), locates frogs by using the frogs' vocalizations and shows a behavioral response to constant frequencies in the sonic range. The minimum intensity needed to elicit a behavioral response to a constant frequency (i.e. threshold intensity) increased as the frequency decreased from 15 kHz to 5 kHz. This is consistent with audiograms of other bats that have been tested in the sonic range. However, the threshold ofT. cirrhosus decreases with frequencies below 5 kHz, which is unusual among bats so far tested in this frequency range. This decreased threshold coincides with the frequencies which characterize frog calls that the bats use to locate their prey.

Keywords

Behavioral Response Minimum Intensity Threshold Intensity Constant Frequency Sonic Frequency 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1983

Authors and Affiliations

  • Michael J. Ryan
    • 1
    • 2
  • Merlin D. Tuttle
    • 3
  • Robert M. R. Barclay
    • 4
  1. 1.Section of Neurobiology and BehaviorCornell UniversityIthacaUSA
  2. 2.Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteBalboa
  3. 3.Vertebrate DivisionMilwaukee Public MuseumMilwaukeeUSA
  4. 4.Department of BiologyCarelton UniversityOttawaCanada

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