Clutter interference along the target range axis in the echolocating bat, Eptesicus fuscus

The sensitivity of the echolocating bat, Eptesicus fuscus, for detection of a sonar target is impaired by the presence of additional targets located at similar distances. At a range of 54 cm, sensitivity to one target declines if the range separation to other targets is smaller than 8-9 cm. This loss of sensitivity is an example of clutter interference along the range axis, created by simultaneous masking of one set of echoes by another. Echoes that fall within an experimentally defined critical range band may sum together to contribute collectively to detection in that band. Echoes falling into separate bands may be detected independently. Acoustic glints within a band appear to be grouped together to be perceived as a single range-extended target of complex structure. Range bands may thus define what a "target" is by specifying within-target and between-target differences in range. The width of critical range bands appears to depend upon target range, with wider bands at greater ranges.