Fruit bats, like this one, previously thought to lack echolocation abilities, are now discovered to utilize sonar waves produced by their wing flaps for navigating in dark environments, according to recent research.
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have found that three kinds of fruit bats use sonar clicks made by their flapping wings to navigate in the dark. This finding, published in the journal Current Biology on Thursday, is surprising because the three fruit bat species weren't supposed to be able to echolocate at all.
The confusion about flapping wings and echolocation might stem from misunderstandings about how different animals use sensory mechanisms for navigation. However, this discovery is the first evidence of an animal using anything other than its vocal organs for echolocation.
Echolocation in bats is significant for several reasons. It shows complex sensory integration, adaptation to environment, and cognitive abilities in animals. Unlike most echolocating bats, fruit bats primarily eat fruits and nectar and often have good eyesight. Therefore, they don't rely on echolocation as much as insectivorous bats do.
The flapping of wings in bats is primarily for locomotion and maneuverability, which is crucial for their flight capabilities. While bats use echolocation effectively, their wing movements are not a source of echolocation clicks. The discovery of echolocation in fruit bats showcases the diversity with which animals have evolved to interact with their environments.
Researchers Boonman and Yavel tested three species of fruit bats for echolocation in a bat-testing chamber. They had to confirm that the echolocation signals were coming from the bats' wings, not their vocal organs. They did so by sealing the bats' mouths, anesthetizing their tongues, and altering wing beat.
Two of the three tested fruit bat species increased their rate of wing clicking when the lights went out, suggesting a navigation purpose. The bats were able to discriminate between two large objects based on their reflectivity and land on the more reflective one in complete darkness, demonstrating echolocation ability for a simpler task.
However, the wing-based echolocation method found was fairly rudimentary, with bats crashing into large obstacles in complete darkness. This discovery, according to sensory biologist Gareth Jones, convincingly showed that the bats could use echolocation to pick between large targets with different reflectivity.
The origin of echolocation in bats is a contentious topic, according to the University of Bristol's Holderied. Comparing the echolocation abilities of different fruit bat species with their anatomy and morphology could provide insights into how echolocation evolved. The discovery of wing-based echolocation in fruit bats showcases the beauty of evolution, according to Holderied.
The researchers spent long hours in complete darkness and high temperatures while conducting their tests. Despite the challenges, they managed to uncover a fascinating aspect of bat behaviour that could have implications for our understanding of sensory adaptation and cognitive abilities in animals.
- The discovery of fruit bats using sonar clicks from their flapping wings for echolocation, published in Current Biology, challenges the understanding of how different animals navigate.
- In contrast to most echolocating bats, fruit bats, due to their eating habits and good eyesight, don't typically rely on echolocation for navigation.
- The finding of an animal using its wings for echolocation serves as the first evidence of such a mechanism and highlights the diversity of animal-environment interactions.
- To confirm echolocation in fruit bats, Researchers Boonman and Yavel conducted tests in a bat-testing chamber, altering wing beat, sealing the bats' mouths, and anesthetizing their tongues.
- The discovery of echolocation in fruit bats by Holderied from the University of Bristol could provide insights into the evolution of echolocation and the beauty of evolutionary adaptations.
