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Audiogram of the fox squirrel (Sciurus niger)

L L Jackson1, H E Heffner, R S Heffner

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, Ohio 43606, USA.

Journal of Comparative Psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983)
|March 1, 1997
PubMed
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Fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) possess excellent hearing sensitivity, detecting frequencies from 113 Hz to 49 kHz. Their acute low-frequency hearing suggests this trait may be ancestral within the Sciuridae family.

Area of Science:

  • Zoology
  • Animal Bioacoustics
  • Mammalian Auditory Perception

Background:

  • Understanding the auditory capabilities of Sciuridae (squirrel family) is crucial for ecological and evolutionary studies.
  • Limited audiometric data exists for many squirrel species, hindering comparative analysis of hearing.
  • Fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) are common, yet their precise hearing range and sensitivity remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the behavioral audiogram of the fox squirrel (Sciurus niger).
  • To assess the low-frequency hearing capabilities of fox squirrels.
  • To infer potential ancestral auditory traits within the Sciuridae family based on comparative hearing data.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a conditioned avoidance procedure to establish behavioral audiograms.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Tested hearing sensitivity across a wide range of frequencies.
  • Recorded auditory thresholds at a standardized sound-pressure level.

    • Main Results:

    • Fox squirrels demonstrated hearing sensitivity from 113 Hz to 49 kHz.
    • Best hearing sensitivity was observed at 8 kHz with a threshold of 1 dB sound-pressure level.
    • Acoustic thresholds of 60 dB sound-pressure level or less were achieved across the measurable range.
    • Significant low-frequency hearing (below 150 Hz) was confirmed.

    Conclusions:

    • Fox squirrels exhibit a broad hearing spectrum with notable low-frequency sensitivity.
    • Their low-frequency hearing aligns with that of prairie dogs, suggesting a shared ancestral trait.
    • This study contributes to the understanding of auditory evolution within the squirrel family.