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Auditory Localization of Ground-Borne Vibrations in Snakes

Paul Friedel, Bruce A. Young, and J. Leo van Hemmen
Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 048701 – Published 28 January 2008

Abstract

Interaural time differences allow many animals to perform azimuthal sound localization. Snakes lack a tympanic membrane, external ear openings, and any other superficial indication of an auditory mechanism. They do, however, possess an inner ear with functional cochlea. The oval window is connected through a loss-free osseous lever system to the two, de facto independent, sides of the lower jaw, which typically rest on the substrate. The footfall of prey generates small-amplitude, low propagation velocity, Rayleigh waves in the soil. This type of wave can be described as fluid motion. Accordingly we apply naval-engineering techniques to show that lower-jaw motion gives rise to a neuronal representation of the auditory world with realistic sensitivity and stereo precision.

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  • Received 19 July 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.048701

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Paul Friedel1, Bruce A. Young2, and J. Leo van Hemmen1

  • 1Physik Department, Technische Universität München, 85747 Garching bei München, Germany
  • 2Department of Biology, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas 66621, USA

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Issue

Vol. 100, Iss. 4 — 1 February 2008

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