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Did you know why owls can hear mice in the distance?
Owls are known as night hunters, and these mysterious birds are known for their extraordinary hearing. To accurately hunt prey in the dark, owls rely on their highly developed hearing abilities rather than their vision. According to research, these birds are able to use sound to locate the source of prey, especially small mammals such as mice, which allows them to stalk and hunt at night.
The secret of sound localization
"Sound localization is the ability of animals to identify the source of sound, involving the recognition of distance and direction."
The structure of the owl's ears is crucial to this ability. Many owl species have asymmetric ears, which not only enhance their hearing but also improve their ability to accurately localize sounds. Take the farm owl in the owl family, for example. The owl's two ear openings are slightly different in position, allowing it to better distinguish the origin of a sound. The left ear is usually positioned higher and specifically receives sounds from the ground, while the right ear receives sounds from a certain height.
Anatomy of the ear
The owl's ear canal is structured to suit its hunting style, and the structure of its eardrum and middle ear have evolved to maximize sound transmission. Sound waves travel through the ear canal to the eardrum, whereupon the sound waves vibrate through the bones of the middle ear and enter the inner ear. The cochlea and auditory nerve in the inner ear play a key role in the sound localization process.
“The owl’s ear canal can effectively transmit sound and help it pinpoint the location of its prey.”
The development of ear asymmetry
Many studies have focused on the asymmetric formation of owl ears during embryonic development. Through micro-CT scanning technology, scientists discovered that the opening of the owl's left ear first begins to change in the early stages of embryonic development, which subsequently leads to a shape difference between the two ears, providing a physiological basis for the owl to enhance its sound localization ability.
Applications of ITD and ILD
Owls rely on "interaural time difference (ITD)" and "interaural volume difference (ILD)" when localizing sounds. ITD is calculated based on the time difference it takes for sound to reach the two ears, while ILD is determined by the difference in sound intensity received by the two ears. Owls use both types of information effectively to accurately identify the location of prey even in relatively quiet environments.
The role of vision in sound localization
Owls rely less on visual cues than other animals because their eyeballs do not have the ability to move, making them more dependent on hearing to find prey. Although vision still plays a role in locating sounds, the owl's hearing ability is clearly the key to their success.
Parallel processing pathways in the brain
There are special neural pathways in the owl's brain, which are divided into two main pathways, processing ITD and ILD respectively. These complex nerve conduction pathways allow owls to effectively integrate sound information from different sources to locate prey quickly and accurately.
The significance of ear asymmetry for sound localization
Research shows that the asymmetrical structure of the ears of many owls enhances their ability to localize sounds, giving them a competitive advantage during hunting. This evolutionary adaptation shows how the ability to successfully hunt prey in the dark is created.
Face-adapted audio positioning function
Owls' facial feathers, especially the downy rings surrounding their faces, help capture and focus sound. In addition, the unique facial feather structure helps to effectively guide sounds, further enhancing their hunting ability.
These characteristics make owls expert hunters on quiet nights. The precise design of their auditory systems and ear structures not only demonstrates the wonderful creativity of nature, but also makes us think about how other animals adapt and survive in this world full of sounds.
