Summary
Bats and dolphins emit sounds and interpret echoes to navigate and hunt.
In depth
Bats emit ultrasonic calls (20 to 200 kHz) and process echoes to detect prey size and location. Dolphins use clicks focused by the melon and receive echoes through the lower jaw. Some moths evolved hearing and jamming clicks in response.
Calls are shaped to environment. Doppler shift compensation is used by some bats. Moths evolved defences.
Example: dolphins detect fish buried in sand.
Bats use frequency-modulated or constant-frequency calls, and some adjust the call to the stage of hunting (a feeding buzz as they close in). They can detect objects as thin as a human hair and distinguish insect wing beats, and the auditory cortex and ears are highly specialised. Toothed whales produce clicks in nasal structures and receive echoes through the lower jaw, and use it to hunt in dark or murky water.
Some moths evolved ears and jamming clicks as counter-adaptations; some bats use quiet or whispering calls to avoid detection. Oilbirds and swiftlets use audible clicks, and some humans learn click-based echolocation. Sonar technology draws inspiration from it.
Frequently asked questions
What is Echolocation?
Bats and dolphins emit sounds and interpret echoes to navigate and hunt.
Which area of biology covers Echolocation, and how advanced is it?
Echolocation is one of the 53 topics in Zoology & Animal Diversity. It is rated Advanced, so it suits learners who want specialist depth. Related topics in this area include Metabolic Scaling, Animal Cognition, Parasitism in Animals.
Why does Echolocation matter?
Echolocation shows convergent evolution, including similar sequence changes in the prestin gene in bats and dolphins.
Can you give an example of Echolocation?
Bats can catch several insects per minute in the dark.
What should I learn before Echolocation?
Work through the Beginner topics in Zoology & Animal Diversity first, such as Animal Kingdom, Vertebrates and Invertebrates, Sponges, then return to Echolocation. Advanced topics assume the Intermediate vocabulary.
What topics are related to Echolocation?
The closest topics to Echolocation are Metabolic Scaling, Animal Cognition, Parasitism in Animals, Parental Care Evolution. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Echolocation?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Echolocation. To practise the whole of Zoology & Animal Diversity, use the Zoology & Animal Diversity quiz.
How is Echolocation different from Metabolic Scaling?
Echolocation: Bats and dolphins emit sounds and interpret echoes to navigate and hunt. Metabolic Scaling: Metabolic rate scales with body mass to the three-quarter power, described by Kleiber's law. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Echolocation step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Metabolic Scaling and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Zoology & Animal Diversity quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.