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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 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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But at the same time the bat lacks the ear and throat features common to all echolocating bats. The scientists have received funding from the Office of Naval Research to do brain imaging work on echolocating dolphins to discover what parts of the brain are actively engaged in processing the echoes. Until now, all the early known fossil bats showed evidence of both flying and echolocating, so they couldn't reveal which ability came first, said researcher Nancy Simmons. |
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