Seals filter sound through blood-filled tissue to hear underwater, study reveals
Researchers have discovered that seals use specialized cavernous tissue in their ears to hear underwater by matching the density of seawater. This evolutionary adaptation allows them to function effectively in both air and water environments.
Why it matters
This study solves a long-standing biological mystery regarding pinniped evolution and sensory adaptation.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source Credit: Natural History Museum The secret of how seals can hear in air and water has been revealed, thanks to pioneering research led by Natural History Museum scientists.
Humans and other land mammals hear by transferring sound waves from the eardrum to the cochlea, where vibrations are converted into neural signals. Underwater, however, this system fails because the air pocket behind the eardrum reflects almost all sound.
Seals are the only mammals that hear equally well in both air and water, prompting scientists to investigate how they achieve this.
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