Question

How do bats locate their prey? Explain in detail.

Answer 1

Hint: Bats utilise a scientific process to locate their prey. This process includes the production of sound waves of the frequency range of 20 Hz to 200 kHz which is equal to the range of ultrasonic waves frequency. The method of locating prey and determining their path of travel is the same.

Complete step by step answer:
Bats are the only mammals who can fly truly. Bats have eyes, but in the dark or to find hidden prey, they utilise a scientific process called echolocation which itself means locating with the help of echo. Bats produce sound waves either through mouth or nose up to a frequency of a range of ultrasonic waves. These sound waves are reflected bats in the form of echoes after hitting an obstacle in front of them. Bats utilise these echo signals to judge from where the sound is coming back, and they create a mental image of the surrounding accordingly. To reach their prey, bats follow a curve path of flight. Bats also have the inherent ability to decide how the angle of their flight is changing, which results in locating their prey. This process of echolocation is similar to the process used by submarines which are known as SONAR. The only difference between these two processes is that bats use echolocation in open-air, whereas SONAR is used in water bodies.
Therefore, we can say that bats utilise a scientific technique called echolocation to locate their prey as well as to determine their path of travel in the dark.

Note:As bats use the echolocation technique to locate their prey, so it does not mean that they do not have eyes. The echolocation technique is also used to identify the path of travel in the dark but in day time bats utilise their eyes for their movement.