Question: Hello, have bats always used sound waves to hunt and move or have they evolved like that? If so, how did they know they had to use sound waves?

Theresia Mina answered on 11 Nov 2014:

Hiya! Excellent and difficult question…

I believe that they have evolved that way over the time. It is a beneficial trait their species gain over the time…. I would imagine that first staying in the cave and hunting at night are nice as they can avoid predator. But obviously it is so dark so how can they see their preys? Over centuries they must have evolved sound waves (and giving up their sight as a trade-off) as a method to hunt fast, and to avoid making too much noise. I believe that this is achieved through selective breeding because those who had better “primitive” sound waves technique had perhaps successfully caught a lot of prey and survived.

Hope this makes sense!