Phased‐array beam scanning as a possible aid to horizontal localization in horseshoe bats

It has recently been shown that oscillating ear movements in horseshoe bats (genus Rhinolophus) are necessary for localization of targets in the vertical dimension. Target elevation thus seems to be calculated from changes in interaural intensity ratios caused by ear movements during echo reception. This letter suggests that, if the radiated beam were spatially oscillated in a similar manner, target azimuth could be deduced from the corresponding oscillation in echo intensity. The potential for rapid phased‐array beam steering exists in horseshoe bats because they emit their echolocation pulses through the nostrils.