Rachel Carlson

These poor male frogs have to make this very loud, conspicuous call. And it's an acoustic beacon. So not only from a distance does it signal to a female frog that here I am, I'm wonderful, I'm attractive, I'm calling at the top of my lungs. It signals that, unfortunately for the male frog, to predators as well. So these frogging bats, that's their first signal that, oh, there's prey in the area.

And that's what initially brings them right to the spot where those frogs are. But as the bat approaches, it has to have landing control as it comes close. It has to know where the ground is and when to stop. Wow. And then it has to pinpoint at the very end exactly where that frog is. And the frog's best line of defense is to stop calling.

And that's what initially brings them right to the spot where those frogs are. But as the bat approaches, it has to have landing control as it comes close. It has to know where the ground is and when to stop. Wow. And then it has to pinpoint at the very end exactly where that frog is. And the frog's best line of defense is to stop calling.

And that's what initially brings them right to the spot where those frogs are. But as the bat approaches, it has to have landing control as it comes close. It has to know where the ground is and when to stop. Wow. And then it has to pinpoint at the very end exactly where that frog is. And the frog's best line of defense is to stop calling.

So if that frog becomes aware that the bat is on the way, the bats really have to switch deck location at the very end because that's going to help them pinpoint in the final moment of approach where that prey target is. And then the bats actually use another sensory modality right when they're in contact with the frog or toad. And that is chemical cues.

So if that frog becomes aware that the bat is on the way, the bats really have to switch deck location at the very end because that's going to help them pinpoint in the final moment of approach where that prey target is. And then the bats actually use another sensory modality right when they're in contact with the frog or toad. And that is chemical cues.

So if that frog becomes aware that the bat is on the way, the bats really have to switch deck location at the very end because that's going to help them pinpoint in the final moment of approach where that prey target is. And then the bats actually use another sensory modality right when they're in contact with the frog or toad. And that is chemical cues.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Once they actually have the frog or toad in mouth, if they've made a mistake, they will spit out that frog and toad. They will spend quite a long time grooming and cleaning and trying to get all those noxious toxins off of them, and they'll be fine. And actually, interestingly, the frog is also fine. So it's a strategy that really does work for both.

Once they actually have the frog or toad in mouth, if they've made a mistake, they will spit out that frog and toad. They will spend quite a long time grooming and cleaning and trying to get all those noxious toxins off of them, and they'll be fine. And actually, interestingly, the frog is also fine. So it's a strategy that really does work for both.

Once they actually have the frog or toad in mouth, if they've made a mistake, they will spit out that frog and toad. They will spend quite a long time grooming and cleaning and trying to get all those noxious toxins off of them, and they'll be fine. And actually, interestingly, the frog is also fine. So it's a strategy that really does work for both.

And we think that that might be why they're so cognitively flexible, is that if they do make a mistake at the eavesdropping level, at the...

And we think that that might be why they're so cognitively flexible, is that if they do make a mistake at the eavesdropping level, at the...

And we think that that might be why they're so cognitively flexible, is that if they do make a mistake at the eavesdropping level, at the...

echolocation level at all these sequential levels of assessment as they approach the prey they have a number of possibilities for correcting that mistake and if it did eat that frog it would get very sick and it could die like these some of these frogs actually are so toxic that much larger mammals like a dog or a cat, like they would die eating that.

echolocation level at all these sequential levels of assessment as they approach the prey they have a number of possibilities for correcting that mistake and if it did eat that frog it would get very sick and it could die like these some of these frogs actually are so toxic that much larger mammals like a dog or a cat, like they would die eating that.

echolocation level at all these sequential levels of assessment as they approach the prey they have a number of possibilities for correcting that mistake and if it did eat that frog it would get very sick and it could die like these some of these frogs actually are so toxic that much larger mammals like a dog or a cat, like they would die eating that.

So it looks very, very much like the juveniles are acquiring these responses over time, that this is something that they have to acquire with experience and likely with learning as they grow up. So much like a human child, you don't, you're not born knowing that there are dangers, perhaps, in encountering strangers. You have to be taught by those adults around you that there is stranger danger.