The Case of the Soprano Pipistrelle

During a recent study of pipistrelle bats, Dr Gareth Jones and colleagues at the University of Bristol noticed that the bats' echolocation calls fell into two distinct groups based on the frequency of their calls. They were echo-locating at 45 kHz or at 55 kHz, with practically no overlap.

The wing morphologies and some skull measurements of the bats tended also to form two groups, which coincided with the echo-location frequencies. The song-flight calls differed between the two groups too.

The 45 kHz and 55 kHz bats were designated 'phonic types'.

These feeding calls are at such a high frequency that humans cannot hear them. This sound recording has been "slowed down" so that you can hear it.

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