Which nocturnal mammal uses echolocation to hunt insects? A bat is the answer. Many insect-eating bats emit ultrasonic calls and interpret the returning echoes to locate prey and navigate in darkness.
The calls are produced in the larynx and released through the mouth or, in some species, the nose. By comparing each outgoing pulse with its echo, a bat can estimate an object's distance, size, shape, and movement. Some bat calls range from roughly 11 kilohertz to more than 200 kilohertz, far above the range most people can hear.
Bats commonly emerge at dusk, when moths, flies, beetles, and other insects are active. Echolocation helps them exploit the night sky, where they can hunt with less competition and avoid some daytime predators. Their calls may also reveal the type of environment they are flying through.
A common mix-up is assuming every bat eats insects. Many species eat fruit, nectar, frogs, fish, or blood, and not all bats rely on echolocation in the same way. Still, “bat” is the canonical answer to this general quiz question.