Horseshoe bat
A bat in the family Rhinolophidae, distinguished by elaborate horseshoe-shaped noseleaf structures that help direct its echolocation calls.
Constant-frequency echolocation: A form of echolocation that maintains a steady-frequency call during its central portion. Horseshoe bats use long constant-frequency calls to detect Doppler shifts from moving prey.
Rhinolophidae: A family of bats whose members are commonly known as horseshoe bats. This is the taxonomic family to which every horseshoe bat belongs.
Bat detector: A device that detects and converts ultrasonic bat calls into audible or recordable signals. Detectors reveal horseshoe bats' distinctive call frequencies and activity patterns.
Greater horseshoe bat: A large horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, found across parts of Europe, North Africa, and Asia. It is a well-studied species whose ecology and echolocation exemplify the family.
Doppler shift compensation: An adjustment in call frequency that offsets frequency shifts in returning echoes. Horseshoe bats lower their call frequency during flight to keep returning echoes within a sensitive hearing range.
Chiroptera: The mammalian order comprising bats, the only mammals capable of sustained powered flight. Horseshoe bats are one branch of the bat order.
Bioacoustics: The study of sound production, transmission, and reception in animals. Horseshoe bats are a prominent subject because their calls have distinctive acoustic structure.
Lesser horseshoe bat: A small horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros, native to parts of Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Its small size and high-frequency calls contrast with those of larger relatives.
Noseleaf: A fleshy structure around the nostrils of some bats that shapes emitted sound. Its elaborate noseleaf helps direct the calls that distinguish this family.
Bat anatomy: The structures and body systems characteristic of bats. The noseleaf is one of several specialized structures in bat anatomy.