echolocation

The use of echoes to detect objects as observed in bats and other natural creatures.

Noun

  1. The use of echoes to detect objects as observed in bats and other natural creatures.
    • Since there is no convenient term available to describe this process of locating obstacles by means of echoes, I suggest the word echolocation[…]. The meaning of this word, and a corresponding verb to echolocate, are...
    • Now similarly with the aquatic mammals, we know that they can make sounds. We are beginning to get information—although no curves yet—on their sensitivity of hearing. These need to be followed up and we should look for...
    • Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from...

    Synonyms: biosonar

Origin

Coined by American zoologist Donald Griffin in 1944, from echo- + location.

Forms

echolocations

Related

echolocate photolocation

Derived

active echolocation echolocational vibroecholocation