Bats

Bats are the most well-known echolocators, with over 1,400 species relying on this ability. They use echolocation to find their way and catch food in the dark. High-pitched sounds bounce off objects and come back as echoes. By listening to the echoes, bats can tell where things are and how big or close they are. This helps them catch tiny insects while flying, even in forests or caves. Some bats make sounds through their nose, while others use their mouth. They can also change how loud or high the sounds are, depending on what they need. To protect their ears, bats turn off their hearing for a split second when they make a sound.