Animal Hearing: Amazing Adaptations

Mammals have external ears for hearing sounds. The structure of the ear is adapted to collect external sounds and transmit their waves to the brain via nerves. Every animal can hear the sounds necessary for its survival. Humans cannot hear ultrasounds or very faint sounds. However, animals must be able to hear subtle sounds for protection or finding food. Nature has given them incredible abilities for this.

Dolphins can hear sounds made 25 kilometers away at the bottom of the water. Cats and dogs can hear faint sounds up to 400,000 Hertz. Even the rustle of a leaf makes a cat's ears perk up. The hollow inside a mouse's ear is wide, causing external sounds to be amplified 100 times. The Bat-eared Fox in Africa can turn its ears towards the ground. Bats are masters of hearing; they can hear and even produce ultrasounds. Interestingly, some fish can also hear ultrasounds, even though they do not have ears.