How good is a Chams hearing?
- Thread starter Roni013
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desultadox
Established Member
I'm pretty sure most reptiles have no ears. I know many "hear" vibrations on the ground, etc. I think this includes chameleons. They're like Beethoven!
Tygerr
Avid Member
Most of the literature I have read about chameleons' hearing has gone along the lines of: "Chameleons do not have a good sense of hearing as they lack both external ear openings and eardrums" (Tolley and Burger, 'Chameleons of Southern Africa')
The Chameleons Society on ThinkQuest has this to say: "Chameleons have the poorest hearing except one species of lacenta from Persia. Shouting next to the chameleon would not arouse him even when he is awake, he disregards most sounds." and "Chameleons have very limited hearing, tuning in to frequencies between 200 and 600 Hz as compared to most other lizards from 100 to 4000 Hz, and to humans 20 to 20,000 Hz. Chameleons cannot hear danger or food approaching." (http://library.thinkquest.org/C0115747/hearing123.htm)
So that probably answers your question about the ultrasonic device: it is presumably way out of the chameleon's hearing range.
However, I was reading a book about the writings of Johann Von Fischer (famed chameleon-keeper in the late 1800's for whom the Fischer chameleon was named I believe), and he wrote that: "Although lacking an exterior ear drum, the animals hear very well; the ear is definitely second among the sense organs. It is more sensitive than in Gongylus or Plestiodon and lags only slightly behind Wardun's Stellio vulgaris and Uromastyx" (from 'Chameleons: Johann von Fischer and Other Perspectives' by James B. Murphy).
What led Von Fischer to believe this about his chameleons (he doesn't go on to say how he determined this)? And has modern zoology overturned his original opinion?
There is well documented evidence that they are sensitive to vibrations though, and may even use low-frequency vibrations to communicate (see Vibratory Calls in True Chameleons).
The Chameleons Society on ThinkQuest has this to say: "Chameleons have the poorest hearing except one species of lacenta from Persia. Shouting next to the chameleon would not arouse him even when he is awake, he disregards most sounds." and "Chameleons have very limited hearing, tuning in to frequencies between 200 and 600 Hz as compared to most other lizards from 100 to 4000 Hz, and to humans 20 to 20,000 Hz. Chameleons cannot hear danger or food approaching." (http://library.thinkquest.org/C0115747/hearing123.htm)
So that probably answers your question about the ultrasonic device: it is presumably way out of the chameleon's hearing range.
However, I was reading a book about the writings of Johann Von Fischer (famed chameleon-keeper in the late 1800's for whom the Fischer chameleon was named I believe), and he wrote that: "Although lacking an exterior ear drum, the animals hear very well; the ear is definitely second among the sense organs. It is more sensitive than in Gongylus or Plestiodon and lags only slightly behind Wardun's Stellio vulgaris and Uromastyx" (from 'Chameleons: Johann von Fischer and Other Perspectives' by James B. Murphy).
What led Von Fischer to believe this about his chameleons (he doesn't go on to say how he determined this)? And has modern zoology overturned his original opinion?
There is well documented evidence that they are sensitive to vibrations though, and may even use low-frequency vibrations to communicate (see Vibratory Calls in True Chameleons).
Last edited:
Justin Carl
Avid Member
Yes, chameleons cant hear, but a few species give off vibrations.
The following is a list of species reported to produce low frequency sounds. Those that have not been mentioned in the text with their source have been cited following the species account:
Brookesia antakarana (A. Beveridge, pers.com.), B. decaryi (E. Edwards, pers.com.), B. ebenaui, B. stumpffi, B. superciliaris, B. thieli, B. vadoni, B. valerieae, Chamaeleo (Chamaeleo) calyptratus, Ch. (Ch.) senegalensis (Kenneth Barnett, pers.obs.)Ch. (Ch.) dilepis (Kenneth Barnett, pers.obs.), Ch. (Trioceros) johnstoni, Ch. (T.) melleri (A. Banks, pers.com.), Ch. (T.) oweni, Furcifer pardalis (A. Beveridge, pers.com.), F. oustaleti (various sources), Rhampholeon boulengeri, R. brachyurus, R. brevicaudatus, R. kerstenii (both R. k. kerstenii and R. k. robecchii), R. spectrum (B. Ikkala, pers.com.), and R. uluguruensis (J. Mease, pers.com.).
The two species that I know of are Rieppeleon brevicaudatus and chameleon calyptratus.
I felt both of them give off a vibration when I held them.
I have had a veiled chameleon for a year and a half now, but never knew they gave off this low vibration.
I probably wouldnt have Known the difference if I wasnt told.
It wasnt until I was talking to Chris A. at the Orlando Repticon show that I got to experience and realize it.
They had a tank full of bearded pygmys and Chris told me to grab the sides of the pygmy.
Sure enough I felt a *buzzzzz*.
I did it about 5 more times because I though it was so funny.
Soon after I got home I started picking up my three Veileds to see if they would do it.
At first none of them would do it, but I found a little trick that may work for you.
I take them out of the cage and place them on my arm.
This way they arent all pissed of because your hands are inside their home.
Then I gently squeeze their sides with my thumb and index finger.
Then you feel a *buzzz* or something similar to a weak electrical shock.
It ususally works if want give it a try.
For a more detailed answer read this:
http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=2
The following is a list of species reported to produce low frequency sounds. Those that have not been mentioned in the text with their source have been cited following the species account:
Brookesia antakarana (A. Beveridge, pers.com.), B. decaryi (E. Edwards, pers.com.), B. ebenaui, B. stumpffi, B. superciliaris, B. thieli, B. vadoni, B. valerieae, Chamaeleo (Chamaeleo) calyptratus, Ch. (Ch.) senegalensis (Kenneth Barnett, pers.obs.)Ch. (Ch.) dilepis (Kenneth Barnett, pers.obs.), Ch. (Trioceros) johnstoni, Ch. (T.) melleri (A. Banks, pers.com.), Ch. (T.) oweni, Furcifer pardalis (A. Beveridge, pers.com.), F. oustaleti (various sources), Rhampholeon boulengeri, R. brachyurus, R. brevicaudatus, R. kerstenii (both R. k. kerstenii and R. k. robecchii), R. spectrum (B. Ikkala, pers.com.), and R. uluguruensis (J. Mease, pers.com.).
The two species that I know of are Rieppeleon brevicaudatus and chameleon calyptratus.
I felt both of them give off a vibration when I held them.
I have had a veiled chameleon for a year and a half now, but never knew they gave off this low vibration.
I probably wouldnt have Known the difference if I wasnt told.
It wasnt until I was talking to Chris A. at the Orlando Repticon show that I got to experience and realize it.
They had a tank full of bearded pygmys and Chris told me to grab the sides of the pygmy.
Sure enough I felt a *buzzzzz*.
I did it about 5 more times because I though it was so funny.
Soon after I got home I started picking up my three Veileds to see if they would do it.
At first none of them would do it, but I found a little trick that may work for you.
I take them out of the cage and place them on my arm.
This way they arent all pissed of because your hands are inside their home.
Then I gently squeeze their sides with my thumb and index finger.
Then you feel a *buzzz* or something similar to a weak electrical shock.
It ususally works if want give it a try.
For a more detailed answer read this:
http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=2
