Echolocation systems of leaf-nosed bats in Taiwan and Iriomote island, Japan

Abstract

The leaf-nosed bats, Hipposideridae, are one of the most common tropical bats found in Asia. Two species of leaf-nosed bats in Iriomote island, Hepposideros turpis, and Taiwan, Hipposideros terasensis, were compared. They emit short echo location pulses (4-7 ms in duration) consisted of constant frequency (CF) component followed by downward frequency modulated (FM) component. The second harmonics are the most intense frequency component. Comparison lists for two species are shown below. Taiwanese leaf-nosed bats, Hipposiderous terasensis CF2: 70 kHz (CF1: 35 kHz) 50-60 g in weight Japanese leaf-nosed bats, Hepposideros turpis CF2: 82 kHz (CF1: 41 kHz) 20-30 g in weight threatened species (Red list). Both Taiwan and Iriomote island are at around the same North latitude 25 degrees. Findings from H. terasensis and H. turpis are introduced and discussed. [Research supported by MEXT, Japan, and Shandong University, China.]