ELEPHANT HEARING

Elephants' vocalizations and movements have recently been shown to pro duce seismic waves (Rayleigh waves). This may be relevant for the well -known long-distance communication of these animals. It is suggested h ere that elephants may sense ground vibrations as a result of bone con duction producing a differential vibration of the middle ear ossicles in relation to the skull. This hypothesis is supported by the exceptio nally massive ossicles of the Indian and African elephants. The acoust ics of bone conduction is reviewed and related to the anatomy of the e lephant middle ear. (C) 1998 Acoustical Society of America. [S0001-496 6(98)05008-5].