Short Cf-Fm and Fm-short CF Calls in the Echolocation Behavior ofPteronotus macleayii(Chiroptera: Mormoopidae)

Abstract

Echolocation signals were recorded from the Macleay's bat (Pteronotus macleayii) while hunting for insects in the field. Search, approach and terminal phases were identified in the foraging activity of the species. During search phase, P. macleayii emitted calls consisting of a short CF component followed by a downward FM sweep (sCF-FM), typical of the small Pteronotus species. In addition, FM-sCF calls were recorded. In search flight some sequences consisted only of sCF-FM calls while others consisted only of FM-sCF calls. Most sequences, however, combined both call designs. Based on this and previous studies we suggest that sCF-FM and FM-sCF calls will characterize the vocal repertoire of each of the small Pteronotus species. We discuss the relevance of our results for acoustic identification of P. macleayii and the other small Pteronotus in the field.