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echolocation |
Also found in: Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.01 sec. |
echolocationPhysiological process for locating distant or invisible objects (such as prey) by emitting sound waves that are reflected back to the emitter by the objects. Echolocation is used by an animal to orient itself, avoid obstacles, find food, and interact socially. Most bats employ echolocation, as do most, if not all, toothed whales (but apparently no baleen whales), a few shrews, and two kinds of birds (oilbirds and certain cave swiftlets). Echolocation pulses consist of short bursts of sound at frequencies ranging from about 1,000 Hz in birds to at least 200,000 Hz in whales. Bats use frequencies from about 30,000 to about 120,000 Hz. echolocation determination of the position of an object by measuring the time taken for an echo to return from it and its direction echolocation [′ek·ō·lō‚kā·shən] (biophysics) An animal's use of sound reflections to localize objects and to orient in the environment. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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He doesn't use sonar as that might interfere with the whales' own echo-location system used for navigation and communication. Other times, they don't rely on echo-location at all but instead "rake" the surface by dragging their claws in the water to snare any fish available, Kalko0 and her colleagues will report later this year in BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY. R) kick off on Wednesday, August 2, with fascinating stories from around the world, including a 7-year-old body builder; a wolf family whose members are covered from head to toe with thick, dark hair; and a real-life "Bat Man," who has overcome his blindness by using the bat-like technique of echo-location. |
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