How Bulldog Bats Hunt in the Night
In How Bulldog Bats Hunt in the Night, Sir David Attenborough describes how, as night falls in Belize, bulldog bats take to the skies, ready for an evening feast. These incredible flying mammals are expert fishers, spotting tiny ripples on the water's surface to locate their prey. With lightning speed, they skim the water at 40 mph, snatching fish with their feet — but the splashy success attracts other bats to the scene. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
Lesson Express
Q: How do bulldog bats use their senses to locate fish in the water, and why is this method effective?
A: Bulldog bats use their eyesight to spot ripples on the water's surface, which indicate fish swimming just below. This method is effective because the ripples act as a clear signal of the fish's location, allowing the bats to target their prey with precision.
Q: Why do bulldog bats lower their call an octave when hunting near other bats? How does this help them?
A: The bats lower their call an octave to avoid mid-air collisions and to signal their presence to other bats. This communication helps maintain order during the hunt and ensures that the bats can fish efficiently without interfering with each other.
Q: What role does teamwork or competition play in the bats’ hunting behavior, and how does it affect their success?
A: Bats communicate by lowering their calls, helping them avoid collisions. However, competition arises as more bats are drawn to the same fishing spot. This balance of cooperation and rivalry influences how quickly they must catch their prey before the fish flee.
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