Research from Tel Aviv University reveals that a dynamic tactile sensor in the tail allows it to avoid obstacles and distinguish different textures
A new study by Tel Aviv University reveals that large-nosed bats (Rhinopoma microphyllum) use their long tails as a “natural” tactile sensor to navigate backward in dark caves. In the study, the researchers discovered that the bats’ long tails act as a dynamic sensory tool, allowing them to avoid obstacles and navigate complex environments while climbing backward, when other sensory abilities such as vision and hearing (echolocation) are limited. The researchers found that when the tail was numbed with a local anesthetic, there was a significant decrease in the bats’ ability to navigate around obstacles by crawling backward and in their speed of movement.
The study was published in the scientific journal iScience, and was conducted under the leadership of students Sahar Haj Yahya and Mor Taub from the laboratory team of Prof. Yossi Yuval. from the School of Zoology in the Faculty of Life Sciences and the Segol School of Neuroscience At Tel Aviv University.
Prof. Yossi Yuval explains: "During the study, the bats were asked to navigate a vertical maze by crawling while moving backwards, while we recorded their movement using a sophisticated tracking system. The bats used their tails as a kind of "guiding stick" by moving them from side to side to identify obstacles and climb more safely and efficiently. On the other hand, when the tail was numbed, the climbing time was extended by an average of 10%, and the bats made more sideways movements instead of moving upwards, apparently in an attempt to find their way."
The researchers also note that the bats showed an amazing ability to distinguish between different textures using their tails. They were able to differentiate between a thin (1 cm) wood grate and a thicker (1.5 cm) grate, highlighting the tail's complex ability to act as an extremely sensitive tactile sensor.
Reverse sensor
Prof. Yossi Yuval concludes: "In most bats, the tail is very short and is part of the wing membrane. Bats have a long free tail, and to our knowledge, they are the only bats that use it to sense their immediate surroundings. This is another example of how evolution adapts animals' senses to specific needs, in this case - moving backwards in dark places around obstacles and other bats. Many bats crawl backwards on dark walls and cannot use their frontal senses such as vision and sonar to 'see' backwards. The tail can be thought of as the bat's reverse sensor. The discovery opens the door to further research on the use of the tail as a sensor in other animal species. The findings may also lead to the development of new sensing technologies inspired by nature, such as robotic navigation systems for complex conditions."
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