http://in.news.yahoo.com/ani/20080111/r_t_ani_sc/tsc-humans-far-more-sensitive-to-fine-so-f32bc39.html
Replies (3)
swez on 01/12/2008 11:45:57
Interesting read there Victor. I'll be if they tested whales and dolphins, they'd probably find very sophisticated auditory patterns in these mammals as well.
Why would humans have such a wide range of hearing acquity and not other mammals? Anyone care to venture a few theories on this one? I'll start with one idea and let others add to the list as they wish.
1. In the animal world, hearing is only one of many finely tuned sensory organs used to detect. (Smell, taste, touch & sight) Research also shows some animals are able to detect earthquakes well before they happen and run for cover. (This was noted before the Mt. St. Helen Volcano erruption of 1980)
a. Detecting food or prey
b. Danger or preditors
c. A partner that is ready/willing to mate
d. The calls from other like animals for food, danger or meetings in packs
2. Human hearing is also well developed for the same purposes. (Highly developed tool)
a. Sensing danger
b. Hunting for food
c. Tending to a baby's needs
d. The ability to enjoy and create music
e. Processing audible information (News, conferences, school work, exchanging ideas and the like)
OK, there's 2 observations. Add more as you like.
Swez
cplkittle on 01/12/2008 23:33:47
I'm guessing it is just our niche.
dogs can smell hundreds of times better
owls can see hundreds of times better
what about bats though?
swez on 01/13/2008 01:15:06
Interesting observation about bats... my brother and I often fly fish a wooded river area at dusk and after dark. We often encounter bats in the air, feeding on mosquitoes and other air borne bugs. We both have had bats home in on our flies in the air while casting. Last year, Dale hooked one and had to retrieve the bat to get his fly back.
Think about the odds on that one. One small fly of millions in the air, air speed of maybe 30-40 ft/sec and a bat can detect and zoom in on it and snatch it in mid air. That is a pretty amazing feat huh?
THINK.... amazing "echolocation" detection system in a common bat and they can catch and eat up to 10,000 mosquitoes in a single night too. How's that for natural mosquito abatement?
Swez
PS Contrary to old wives tales, "Blind as a Bat", the "Megabats" rely primarily on sight for feeding and navigation. These are larger bats found in the tropics and primarily eat fruits or are carnivorous. (Small rodents, fish and other smaller bats) Microbats have small eyes and limited sight. They rely on "ecolocation" to feed primarily on insects. The Microbats have amazing flying skills but visual acquity is generally limited as researchers now know.
Replies (3)
swez on 01/12/2008 11:45:57
Interesting read there Victor. I'll be if they tested whales and dolphins, they'd probably find very sophisticated auditory patterns in these mammals as well.
Why would humans have such a wide range of hearing acquity and not other mammals? Anyone care to venture a few theories on this one? I'll start with one idea and let others add to the list as they wish.
1. In the animal world, hearing is only one of many finely tuned sensory organs used to detect. (Smell, taste, touch & sight) Research also shows some animals are able to detect earthquakes well before they happen and run for cover. (This was noted before the Mt. St. Helen Volcano erruption of 1980)
a. Detecting food or prey
b. Danger or preditors
c. A partner that is ready/willing to mate
d. The calls from other like animals for food, danger or meetings in packs
2. Human hearing is also well developed for the same purposes. (Highly developed tool)
a. Sensing danger
b. Hunting for food
c. Tending to a baby's needs
d. The ability to enjoy and create music
e. Processing audible information (News, conferences, school work, exchanging ideas and the like)
OK, there's 2 observations. Add more as you like.
Swez
cplkittle on 01/12/2008 23:33:47
I'm guessing it is just our niche.
dogs can smell hundreds of times better
owls can see hundreds of times better
what about bats though?
swez on 01/13/2008 01:15:06
Interesting observation about bats... my brother and I often fly fish a wooded river area at dusk and after dark. We often encounter bats in the air, feeding on mosquitoes and other air borne bugs. We both have had bats home in on our flies in the air while casting. Last year, Dale hooked one and had to retrieve the bat to get his fly back.
Think about the odds on that one. One small fly of millions in the air, air speed of maybe 30-40 ft/sec and a bat can detect and zoom in on it and snatch it in mid air. That is a pretty amazing feat huh?
THINK.... amazing "echolocation" detection system in a common bat and they can catch and eat up to 10,000 mosquitoes in a single night too. How's that for natural mosquito abatement?
Swez
PS Contrary to old wives tales, "Blind as a Bat", the "Megabats" rely primarily on sight for feeding and navigation. These are larger bats found in the tropics and primarily eat fruits or are carnivorous. (Small rodents, fish and other smaller bats) Microbats have small eyes and limited sight. They rely on "ecolocation" to feed primarily on insects. The Microbats have amazing flying skills but visual acquity is generally limited as researchers now know.
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