Echolocation calls produced by Trachops cirrhosus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomatidae) while hunting for frogs

Abstract

The echolocation calls produced by Trachops cirrhosus in the field and in a flight cage were recorded as they hunted for frogs. The calls were of low intensity (< 70 dB sound pressure level (SPL) at 10 cm), short (less than 1 ms), multiharmonic frequency modulated sweeps with energy from over 100 to around 50 kHz. During most successful attacks of frogs in the cage, these orientation sounds were produced by the bats which are also known to rely on frog calls to locate prey.