Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Crepuscular vocal partitioning and thermal limits on calling behavior in the Bubbling Kassina (Kassina senegalensis) in a sub-equatorial savanna.

Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology·2026
Same author

Rhythmic Entrainment and Sexual Selection in Animal Communication.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2026
Same author

Similarity of the effects of reverberation on speech intelligibility in noise for hearing-impaired and normal-hearing listeners.

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·2025
Same author

Nonlinear acoustic phenomena tune the adults' facial thermal response to baby cries with the cry amplitude envelope.

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·2025
Same author

Temporal integration and decision-making in crocodiles.

Biology open·2025
Same author

Nonlinear phenomena in vertebrate vocalizations: mechanisms and communicative functions.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 31, 2025

Assessing Spatial Learning and Memory in Small Squamate Reptiles
08:44

Assessing Spatial Learning and Memory in Small Squamate Reptiles

Published on: January 3, 2017

7.6K

Spatial release from masking in crocodilians.

Julie Thévenet1,2, Léo Papet3,4, Zilca Campos5

  • 1Equipe de Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle ENES / CRNL, CNRS, Inserm, University of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France. julie.thevenet@inserm.fr.

Communications Biology
|August 25, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Crocodilians can use Spatial Release from Masking (SRM) to hear better in noisy environments. This ability helps them detect important sounds even when there is background noise, both in the wild and in captivity.

More Related Videos

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face
08:15

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Published on: January 7, 2019

7.0K
Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish
10:56

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish

Published on: March 6, 2014

12.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 31, 2025

Assessing Spatial Learning and Memory in Small Squamate Reptiles
08:44

Assessing Spatial Learning and Memory in Small Squamate Reptiles

Published on: January 3, 2017

7.6K
Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face
08:15

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Published on: January 7, 2019

7.0K
Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish
10:56

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish

Published on: March 6, 2014

12.6K

Area of Science:

  • Animal behavior
  • Bioacoustics
  • Sensory ecology

Background:

  • Ambient noise significantly impacts acoustic communication in humans and animals.
  • Spatial Release from Masking (SRM) is a known mechanism for overcoming acoustic masking by spatially separating sound sources.
  • SRM is well-documented in humans but under-explored in non-human animals, particularly in natural settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and effectiveness of Spatial Release from Masking (SRM) in crocodilians.
  • To determine if crocodilians can utilize SRM in their natural habitats.
  • To assess the influence of angular separation between sound sources on SRM efficacy in crocodilians.

Main Methods:

  • Field experiments were conducted in natural crocodilian habitats.
  • Captive investigations were performed to complement field observations.
  • Behavioral responses to sound stimuli with varying spatial configurations were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Two species of crocodilians demonstrated the ability to use SRM.
  • SRM proved effective even with small angular separations between target and noise sources.
  • Maximum SRM effectiveness was observed when the angular separation exceeded 15 degrees.

Conclusions:

  • Crocodilians possess and utilize Spatial Release from Masking (SRM) in their natural environments.
  • SRM enhances sound scene analysis and the detection of biologically relevant signals for crocodilians.
  • The findings suggest SRM is an important auditory adaptation for crocodilians in noisy ecological niches.