How minute sooglossid frogs hear without a middle ear.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 110(38): 15360-4, 2013 Sep 17.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24003145
ABSTRACT
Acoustic communication is widespread in animals. According to the sensory drive hypothesis [Endler JA (1993) Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 340(1292)215-225], communication signals and perceptual systems have coevolved. A clear illustration of this is the evolution of the tetrapod middle ear, adapted to life on land. Here we report the discovery of a bone conduction-mediated stimulation of the ear by wave propagation in Sechellophryne gardineri, one of the world's smallest terrestrial tetrapods, which lacks a middle ear yet produces acoustic signals. Based on X-ray synchrotron holotomography, we measured the biomechanical properties of the otic tissues and modeled the acoustic propagation. Our models show how bone conduction enhanced by the resonating role of the mouth allows these seemingly deaf frogs to communicate effectively without a middle ear.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Anuros
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Condução Óssea
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Audição
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Orelha Interna
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Modelos Biológicos
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article