Rachel Carlson

So they have enormous ears. This helps with their eavesdropping behavior as they listen in for frog calls and other prey sounds. They also, as you might guess from the name, have this fringe on their chin and lips. And this has been hypothesized as a way to very quickly make chemosensory assessments of prey quality. So whether a frog is palatable or poisonous.

So they have enormous ears. This helps with their eavesdropping behavior as they listen in for frog calls and other prey sounds. They also, as you might guess from the name, have this fringe on their chin and lips. And this has been hypothesized as a way to very quickly make chemosensory assessments of prey quality. So whether a frog is palatable or poisonous.

So they have enormous ears. This helps with their eavesdropping behavior as they listen in for frog calls and other prey sounds. They also, as you might guess from the name, have this fringe on their chin and lips. And this has been hypothesized as a way to very quickly make chemosensory assessments of prey quality. So whether a frog is palatable or poisonous.

So if they heard a particular frog call, they would expect, okay, this is palatable prey. I'm flying for it versus this is a poisonous frog. I'm going to stay away. But what we didn't know is how these acoustic preferences developed.

So if they heard a particular frog call, they would expect, okay, this is palatable prey. I'm flying for it versus this is a poisonous frog. I'm going to stay away. But what we didn't know is how these acoustic preferences developed.

So if they heard a particular frog call, they would expect, okay, this is palatable prey. I'm flying for it versus this is a poisonous frog. I'm going to stay away. But what we didn't know is how these acoustic preferences developed.

Was it something that they were born with? Was it something in between? So the goal of this particular study... was to really probe those juvenile bats, to ask them, what are your preferences for these different frog calls? And how do those compare with adult bats?

Was it something that they were born with? Was it something in between? So the goal of this particular study... was to really probe those juvenile bats, to ask them, what are your preferences for these different frog calls? And how do those compare with adult bats?

Was it something that they were born with? Was it something in between? So the goal of this particular study... was to really probe those juvenile bats, to ask them, what are your preferences for these different frog calls? And how do those compare with adult bats?

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.

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.

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.