Auditory sensitivity of a California sea lion to airborne sound
- 1 October 1974
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Acoustical Society of America (ASA) in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
- Vol. 56 (4) , 1248-1251
- https://doi.org/10.1121/1.1903415
Abstract
Estimates of the California sea lion's (Zalophus californianus) sound‐detection thresholds in air were determined by the conditioned vocalization technique, covering a frequency range of 4–32 kHz. In air, sensitivity beyond 4 kHz gradually decreased to 24 kHz, with a rapid loss in sensitivity beyond 24 kHz. An average loss of 15 dB in the aerial audiogram of Zalophus, compared to its underwater counterpart, indicated that, like the harbor and harp seals' ears, the California sea lion's ear is water adapted. In‐air hearing sensitivity of Zalophus may be best in the frequency range most characteristic of their vocal signalling during the reproductive season.Keywords
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