''Mucuna holtonii'' is a species of plant in the
bean family, which is pollinated by
bat
Bats are flying mammals of the order Chiroptera (). With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most birds, flying with their very long spread-out ...
s. Bats are able to detect if the flowers have nectar using
echolocation.
[*D. von Helversen and O. von Helversen. "Object recognition by echolocation: a nectar feedingbat exploiting the flowers of a rain forest vine". in Journal of Comp. Physiol. A. (2003) 189: 327-336.][von Helversen & von Helversen (1999]
Acoustic guide in bat-pollinated flower
''Nature
Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the Ecosphere (planetary), ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the Scientific law, laws, elements and phenomenon, phenomena of the physic ...
'' 398:759-760. After an initial bat visit during which nectar is removed, the petals are arranged in a different manner (altering the shape of the flower). As a result, the unique "echo fingerprint" of petal arrangement informs the bat whether nectar is present or absent.
It is thought that the plant evolved acoustically conspicuous structures to make them easier to detect by
glossophagine bats.
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]
References
holtonii
{{Phaseoleae-stub