biosonar
Nature's acoustic navigation
Biosonar is the biological equivalent of sonar—the ability of certain animals to navigate and locate prey by emitting sounds and interpreting the returning echoes.
Bats use biosonar to hunt insects in darkness; dolphins and whales use it underwater.
The technical term is echolocation, but biosonar emphasizes the parallel to human-made sonar technology.
Brief sharp sounds
- dolphinEcholocating marine mammal
- porpoiseSmall toothed whale relative
- toothed whaleCetacean bearing dentition
- sperm whaleGiant toothed marine mammal
Inaudible high-frequency waves
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- soundwaveTraveling pressure disturbance
- pulseArterial blood throb
- clickBrief sharp noise
amplitude · waveform · modulation · harmonics · resonance · signal processing · auditory · oscillation
Submersible sound sensor
- spectrogramFrequency-over-time display
- oscilloscopeVoltage waveform display device
- biomimicryDesign imitating natural systems
Scientific name for bats
- nocturnal huntingPredatory activity after sunset
- insectivorousFeeding on six-legged creatures
- frequency modulationEncoding via wave pitch
- gleaningCollecting leftover grain
wing membrane · orientation · horseshoe bat · microbat · acoustic imaging · duty cycle
Awareness of position in space
- range findingDetermining spatial separation
- depth perceptionGauging object distance visually
- three-dimensional imagingRecording spatial depth visually
- angular resolutionMinimum distinguishable angle between objects
clicks
Brief sharp sounds
- dolphinEcholocating marine mammal
- porpoiseSmall toothed whale relative
- toothed whaleCetacean bearing dentition
sperm whale · orca · beluga · narwhal · melon · foraging · whistles
ultrasound
Inaudible high-frequency waves
click · amplitude · waveform · modulation · harmonics · resonance · signal processing · auditory · oscillation · spectrum
hydrophone
Submersible sound sensor
- spectrogramFrequency-over-time display
- oscilloscopeVoltage waveform display device
- biomimicryDesign imitating natural systems
chiroptera
Scientific name for bats
- nocturnal huntingPredatory activity after sunset
- insectivorousFeeding on six-legged creatures
- frequency modulationEncoding via wave pitch
gleaning · wing membrane · orientation · horseshoe bat · microbat · acoustic imaging · duty cycle
spatial orientation
Awareness of position in space
- range findingDetermining spatial separation
- depth perceptionGauging object distance visually
- three-dimensional imagingRecording spatial depth visually
biosonarvision
Ability to see
sight · visual perception · photoreception · olfaction · chemoreception
biology, biography, bio, biological, sonorous, sonic, sonar, sonogram, echolocation