Can Chameleons Hear?
- Thread starter ChamNoob
- Start date
doesent look like she's got ears
ChameleonAlley
New Member
I've wondered this, too. I don't think they can by the way they act and react to noise (I never see any reaction.) Honestly, I have no idea, though.
Chris Anderson
Dr. House of Chameleons
Chameleons have no outer ear opening but their inner ear is just as developed as other lizards. This means that their ability to detect airborne sound waves is limited to frequencies that are able to transmit into the inner ear through the skin and tissue. These frequencies tend to be more low pitched sounds of longer wave lengths. They convert into vibrations better then high pitched/short sound waves, which can then be transmitted to the inner ear. This is why substrate vibrations in the environment are well detected by chameleons and why they produce and utilize them for communication.
Chris
Chris
saltwaterguy02
New Member
I don’t think they can hear. I think it’s a good thing because I can vacuum or listen to music loud with out feeling like im scaring them lol
Chris Anderson
Dr. House of Chameleons
Vacuuming and playing loud music both fall into the category of low frequency sounds that chameleons can hear and will respond to. In high amounts, it can be very stressful to them.
Chris
Here is a thread about their hearing...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/do-chameleons-hear-1823/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/do-chameleons-hear-1823/
Rocky
Established Member
I wonder if the inner ear is what causes the babies in the wild to all hatch out around the same time.
saltwaterguy02
New Member
Low frequency noises can come from pretty much everything in your house, the phone ringing, TV on, you talking, listening to music. There is no such thing has a free low frequency room. Now in High quantities yes maybe it is stressful but you don’t know 100% I would say it would be more stressful having your chameleon walk on top of a cowboys hat on your head. Yes I do vacuum once a week and keep my place clean. I don’t blast my music or bass to where my neighbors are pounding on the wall or have my speaker’s right next to the cage. I didn’t mean to sound like a horrible pet owner when I said I can vacuum and listen to music loud with out them hearing adding “what my cat and dog would hear
Chris Anderson
Dr. House of Chameleons
I wasn't trying to say you shouldn't vacuum, I was just saying that I wouldn't agree that they don't pick up on the noise from vacuuming or playing loud music. As you said, low frequency noises are common, however the phone ringing and you talking is not going to produce the same amount or intensity of these low frequency noises as playing music loudly or vacuuming. My point simply is that while a certain amount of this noise is unavoidable, it should be avoided in excess as physiologically they can detect them and since they do utilize similar means to communicate, overwhelming these senses for prolonged periods is naturally stressful.
Chris
graydon
New Member
Im assuming a TV would fall into low frequency to right?
Chris Anderson
Dr. House of Chameleons
Frequency, pitch and wavelength are all basically the same thing. A TV is going to produce a range of sounds of various wavelengths. When we talk we produce a range of wavelengths too. The deeper the tone, the longer the wavelength or lower the frequency.
Chris
graydon
New Member
Thought so. Thank you Chris
