Heffner R S, Heffner H E, Contos C, Kearns D
Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, OH 43606.
Hear Res. 1994 Mar;73(2):185-9. doi: 10.1016/0378-5955(94)90233-x.
Behavioral audiograms were determined for four black-tailed and one white-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus and C. leucurus) using a conditioned avoidance procedure. The hearing of black-tailed prairie dogs ranges from 29 Hz to 26 kHz and that of the white-tailed prairie dog from 44 Hz to 26 kHz (at sound pressure levels of 60 dB). Both species have good low-frequency hearing, especially black-tailed prairie dogs which can hear as low as 4 Hz and are more sensitive than any other rodent yet tested at frequencies below 63 Hz. In contrast, prairie dogs are relatively insensitive in their midrange and have poor high-frequency hearing. It is suggested that the reduced midrange sensitivity and high-frequency hearing are related to their adaptation to an underground lifestyle with its reduced selective pressure for sound localization. In this respect they appear to be intermediate between the more exclusively subterranean rodents (such as gophers and mole rats) and surface dwellers (such as chinchillas and kangaroo rats).
采用条件性回避程序，测定了4只黑尾土拨鼠和1只白尾土拨鼠（黑尾土拨鼠和白尾土拨鼠）的行为听力图。黑尾土拨鼠的听力范围为29赫兹至26千赫兹，白尾土拨鼠的听力范围为44赫兹至26千赫兹（声压级为60分贝时）。两种土拨鼠都有良好的低频听力，尤其是黑尾土拨鼠，它能听到低至4赫兹的声音，并且在低于63赫兹的频率下比其他任何已测试的啮齿动物都更敏感。相比之下，土拨鼠在中频相对不敏感，高频听力较差。有人认为，中频敏感度和高频听力的降低与它们适应地下生活方式有关，这种生活方式对声音定位的选择压力较小。在这方面，它们似乎介于更纯粹的地下啮齿动物（如囊鼠和鼹形鼠）和地面栖息动物（如毛丝鼠和更格卢鼠）之间。
