VISUAL FORM DISCRIMINATION BY ECHOLOCATING BATS

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Publication Date

12-1-1969

Publication Title

The Biological Bulletin

Volume Number

137

Issue Number

3

Abstract

Two species of echolocating Microchiroptera were behaviorally conditioned to visually discriminate between various pairs of simple, equal area patterns presented simultaneously as silhouettes against a diffusely trans-illuminated background. These were Carollia perspicillata (frugivouous) and Anoura geoffroyi (nectivorous). Data suggest that visual form discrimination in bats such as Anoura geoffroyi is comparable or superior to that demonstrated in pigmented laboratory rats. Pattern vision may supplement or replace acoustic orientation in the detection of relatively large distant objects where the propagation losses of ultrasonic cries seriously reduce the echo intensity. Vision may be an important aid to navigation of bats on feeding or migratory flights.

Keywords

Bats, Vision, Visual perception, Echolocation (Physiology), Animal orientation

Document Type

Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.2307/1540174

Language

English

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