Marine mammal ears: an anatomical perspective on underwater hearing
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Title | Marine mammal ears: an anatomical perspective on underwater hearing |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 1998 |
Authors | Ketten, D. R. |
Journal | International Congress on Acoustics |
Volume | 3 |
Pagination | 1657-1660 |
Call Number | DRK6795 |
Keywords | ABR, AEP, audiometry, auditory brainstem response, auditory evoked potentials, carnivora, cochlea, computerized tomography, ct scan, dolphins, FEM modeling, fissipedia, hearing, magnetic resonance imaging, mammalian ears, manatees, marine mammal ears, marine mammals, morphology, MRI, mysticetes, odobenids, odontocetes, otariids, phocids, pinnipeds, seals, sirenia |
Abstract | Recently, concerns over anthropogenic sounds in the oceans pushed us to develop a broader knowledge of marine mammal hearing. Methods ranging from conventional audiometry to FEM modeling have been employed. The resulting data suggest marine mammal ears are more diverse and complex than previously expected, with acoustic capabilities spanning infra to ultrasonic ranges. Seals are amphibious hearers but divide into air vs aquatic adapted ears. Whales have strikingly different ears adapted exclusively to hearing underwater and have specialized tissue paths to the ear, consistent with the acoustic impedance in water. Exceptional auditory nerve densities are found in all whales, and is not exclusively found in ultrasonic echolocators. |
- ABR
- AEP
- audiometry
- auditory brainstem response
- auditory evoked potentials
- carnivora
- cochlea
- computerized tomography
- CT scan
- dolphins
- ears
- FEM modeling
- fissipedia
- hearing
- magnetic resonance imaging
- mammal
- mammalian ears
- manatees
- Marine
- marine mammal
- marine mammal ears
- marine mammals
- morphology
- MRI
- mysticetes
- odobenids
- odontocetes
- otariids
- perspective
- phocids
- pinnipeds
- seals
- sirenia