Author
2,954
edits
Changes
no edit summary
[[Image:Lizard_ear.bmp|150px|thumb|right|'''Lizard ear (the tympanum is the clear scale in the center)''' (© RVC and its licensors, Sean Bobbit, Sue Evans, Andrew Devare and Claire Moore. All rights reserved)]]
[[Image:Lizard_ear.bmp|150px|thumb|right|'''Lizard ear (the tympanum is the clear scale in the center)''' (© RVC and its licensors, Sean Bobbit, Sue Evans, Andrew Devare and Claire Moore. All rights reserved)]]
Most lizards seem to hear in the same range as the green iguana (500 to 4,000Hz range), with a sensitivity peak at 700 Hz, equal to about 24 dB. For lizards lacking a tympanic membrane, such as the lesser (Northern) earless lizard (''Holbrookia maculata'') and many fossorial (burrowing) and semi-fossorial lizards (for example the legless Anniella), hearing is limited to lower frequencies. However, even without a surface or subsurface-mounted tympanic membrane, many "earless" reptiles can indeed "hear", though to varying degrees.
Most lizards seem to hear in the same range as the [[Green Iguana|green iguana]] (500 to 4,000Hz range), with a sensitivity peak at 700 Hz, equal to about 24 dB. For lizards lacking a tympanic membrane, such as the lesser (Northern) earless lizard (''Holbrookia maculata'') and many fossorial (burrowing) and semi-fossorial lizards (for example the legless Anniella), hearing is limited to lower frequencies. However, even without a surface or subsurface-mounted tympanic membrane, many "earless" reptiles can indeed "hear", though to varying degrees.
Lizards such as gekkonids can actually vocalize (unlike the rapid expulsion of air resulting in a hiss) and have both high sensitivity and high frequency, up into the 10,000Hz range. Although very few studies have been done on gekkonid vocalization, research seems to indicate that in some species, it may play a role in territoriality and social groupings.
Lizards such as gekkonids can actually vocalize (unlike the rapid expulsion of air resulting in a hiss) and have both high sensitivity and high frequency, up into the 10,000Hz range. Although very few studies have been done on gekkonid vocalization, research seems to indicate that in some species, it may play a role in territoriality and social groupings.