Echolocation calls of free-flying common vampire bats Desmodus rotundus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in Chile. Issue 2 (4th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rodríguez-San Pedro, Annia; Allendes, Juan Luis
• Is Part Of: Bioacoustics. Volume 26:Issue 2(2017:May)
• Page Start: 153
• Page End: 160
• Publication Date: 2017-05-04
• Subjects: Acoustic identification -- common vampire bat -- Chile -- vocalizations -- desmodontinae; Bioacoustics -- Periodicals; Sound production by animals -- Periodicals; Animal sounds -- Periodicals; Sound recordings -- Periodicals; 591.59405
• DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2016.1231079
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-4622

Abstract

Abstract: We recorded and characterized the echolocation calls emitted by the common vampire bat Desmodus rotundus during foraging in natural habitats in Chile. Signal design typically shows multiple harmonics consisting of a brief quasi-constant frequency (QCF) component at the beginning of the pulse followed by a downward frequency modulated component. Calls are characterized by long durations (5.5 ms) and emitted as single pulses or in groups of 2–3 pulses at a repetition rate of 29 Hz. The higher frequency ranges (85–35 kHz) and the unusual QCF component that characterized multiharmonic signals of free-flying D. rotundus in Chile is a remarkable feature for acoustic identification with other Chilean bats.