Biolocation

(from bio ... and the Latin loco “I place,” “I set”), the ability of an animal to determine its position in space (bio-orientation) or the position of an object in relation to itself (direction, distance). Biolocation is achieved by the perception of external signals by the body’s surface or by special sense organs (vision, touch, smell, hearing, balance, and others). A distinction is made between direct (passive) biolocation, which is characteristic of most animals, and echolocation, by which is perceived the reflection of an acoustic, mechanical, electrical, or other signal sent into space by an animal and reflected by some object. The latter is characteristic of cetaceans (for example, dolphins), bats, and some other mammals.