The Production of Echolocation Signals by Bats and Birds

Abstract

The mechanisms by which echolocating animals produce their sonar signals have generally received less attention than has the detection and processing of these signals by the auditory system. Since the transmitter and receiver are equal partners in the successful operation of a sonar system, we need to know more about how an animal controls the important information-bearing properties of its echolocative signal and about interactions between its vocal and auditory systems. This paper reviews recent developments in the laryngeal or syringeal physiology and vocal tract acoustics of echolocating bats and birds.