Plantwatch: the cactus that lures bats with its fuzzy acoustic hat

In eastern Brazil, coleocephalocereus goebelianus towers above surrounding plants, making its beacon even clearer Some flowers lure bats into pollinating them by stinking like fermenting fruit, cabbage, garlic and even urine. But one cactus flower tempts bats by turning into an acoustic beacon. Bats make high-pitched squeaks, too high for humans to hear, and use the echoes when the sounds bounce off objects for navigation and for finding objects in the dark. Continue reading...

By Paul Simons