Peripheral hearing mechanisms in reptiles and birds

Abstract

Reptiles and birds have good hearing ability. This book describes the phylogeny of the ear in reptiles and birds; hair cells and the origin of the hearing inner ear; the middle ear; inner ear and basilar papilla; techniques used in hearing research; turtles and snakes; alligator-lizards; monitor lizards; geckos; skink; Caiman crocodiles; peripheral hear- ing organ of birds; hearing range and frequency selection. The mechanics of sound transmission is well described together with the morphology and electrical activity of the inner ear. Reptiles hear lower frequencies well. Initially this was with the head on the ground. As the neck developed and the head became raised from the ground, the hearing mechanism had to be improved. This book describes how the