Bats Hunt With Eyes as Well as Ears, Study Finds

Bats may be using their eyes more than previously thought during nighttime hunts. New research observing greater mouse-eared bats in Germany suggests these creatures can effectively hunt insects using sight, not just echolocation. The study, published in the journal PNAS, equipped bats with tiny sensors to track their flight patterns under varying light conditions.

Researchers found that the bats were more agile in hunting prey during twilight hours compared to complete darkness. While they still used echolocation, the frequency of these calls decreased in dimmer light. This observation leads scientists to believe that vision aids in more efficient decision-making during hunts.

The findings challenge the long-held assumption that bats' eyesight is insufficient for nocturnal hunting due to poor light. While bats have always been known to use their eyes for general navigation, their role in actively catching prey in the dark was considered minimal. However, the study indicates that many bat species, like the greater mouse-eared bat with its approximately 40-centimeter wingspan, have vision specifically adapted for the dim light of dusk and dawn.

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This suggests that vision helped make decisions more efficiently.