Orientation in Neotropical Bats. II. Phyllostomatidae and Desmodontidae

Abstract

The orientation sounds of Chilonycteris rubiginosa, C. personata, Pteronotus, Macrotus, Glossophaga, Leptonycteris, Artibeus (Phyllostomatidae), and Desmodus (Desmodontidae) were analyzed for frequency, frequency pattern, and duration. All of these bats produce ultrasonic orientation pulses of both a frequency modulated and harmonic pattern. Ordinarily at least two harmonic components characterize the onsets of pulses with additional harmonics commonly occurring later on. There is an invariable frequency drop, usually less than one octave, from beginning to end of each pulse. The rate of frequency drop may be irregular, especially so in C. rubiginosa, characterized as well by long pulses. Glossophaga produce sounds of unusually high frequency (up to 208 kc) and short duration. No generalities seem to characterize the frequency and duration of phyllostomatid sounds.