Deep in the tropical rainforests of Panama, a remarkable predator uses more than just sight or smell to hunt. Meet the cirrhotic bat (Trachops cirrhosus), a species that eavesdrops on the love songs of amphibians to survive.
These bats have developed an incredible ability to detect and evaluate frogs' mating calls—not only to find prey, but also to avoid poisonous species. It's one of the most sophisticated examples of sound-based predation in the animal kingdom.
How do bats hunt using sound?
While all bats use echolocation to navigate, fringe-lipped bats take their sense of sound to a new level. They can distinguish subtle acoustic differences in the calls of frogs and toads, determining which ones are safe to eat and which ones could kill them.
“It’s like their prey ringing the dinner bell,” says Dr. Rachel Page, a lead researcher at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
During the rainy season in Panama, male tungara frogs emit loud, rhythmic pulses to attract females. But these calls also attract unwanted attention. To a hungry bat, these croaks are coordinates to potential food.
Learned Behavior: Nature vs. Nurture
A new study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B shows that young bats initially don’t know which frogs are safe. They respond to all calls—even those of toxic species—sometimes with aggression. Over time, through trial and error, they learn to ignore the danger signals.
The discovery highlights that animal behavior is shaped by experience, not just genetics. Adult bats learn to associate certain sounds with negative consequences and refine their hunting techniques.
“This is a fascinating example of behavioral plasticity,” says Dr. Mirjam Knornschild, an expert in evolutionary ethology.
Sound recognition that rivals human skills
Even more intriguing is the similarity to human auditory attention. Just as humans can recognize their own name in a noisy crowd, these bats learn to tune in to appropriate sounds amidst the sonic chaos of the rainforest.
Fang-lipped bats can focus exclusively on certain frequencies that signal non-toxic, nutrient-rich frogs, ignoring all others—a cognitive feat rarely seen in non-human animals.
Social learning and culture in bats?
There is growing evidence that mother bats can teach their young to recognize edible prey. Even after weaning, the young remain close to their mothers, offering ample opportunities for social learning. In some experiments, trained bats have maintained associations between prey and sounds for more than four years.
This raises interesting questions: Could bats have elements of cultural transmission? Do they use sound not only for survival, but also to transmit knowledge?
Why it matters
Understanding how bats process and respond to sound gives scientists insights into the evolution of intelligence, learning, and decision-making in wild animals. It also provides insight into broader questions about language, music, and auditory processing across species.
This isn't just about bats. It's about the evolution of cognition itself.
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