Hearing in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

The audiogram of two yearling male reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) we re determined using a conditioned suppression/avoidance procedure. During t esting, the animal was drinking from a metal bowl while pure tone signals w ere played at random intervals and followed by an electric shock in the bow l, By breaking contact with the bowl at sound signals, the animal avoided t he shock. The animals detected sounds at intensities of 60 dB or less from 70 Hz to 38 kHz. The frequency range of best sensitivity was relatively fla t from 1 kHz to 16 kHz, with a best sensitivity of 3 dB at 8 kHz. The heari ng ability of reindeer is similar to the hearing ability of other ungulates .