Department of Psychology

Audiogram of the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)

 

Data from: Heffner, R.S., Heffner, H.E., Contos, C., and Kearns, D. (1994) Hearing in prairie dogs: Transition between surface and subterranean rodents. Hearing Research, 73, 185-189.

 

Absolute thresholds (in dB re 20 µN/m2) for four prairie dogs (designated A through D

 

Frequency

(in kHz)

Individual Thresholds

(in dB)

 

Average

A

B

C

D

.004

87

91.5

89.3

.008

74.5

77.5

76

.011

71

76

73.5

.016

64

71.5

67.7

.032

56

61

58

58.3

.063

42.5

45

43.7

.125

37

41

35

42

38.8

.250

34

36.5

30

25

31.4

.500

27

31

22

26

26.5

1

23.3

25.5

19

28

24

2

26

20

20

28

23.5

4

25

15

21

20.3

8

31

26

31

29.3

16

32

35

40

35.7

22.4

42

45

43.5

32

75

>92

85


Lowest and highest frequencies audible at sound

pressure levels (SPL) ranging from 30 to 70 dB SPL

SPL

(in dB)

Lowest audible frequency (in kHz)

Highest audible frequency (in kHz)

70

.013

28

60

.028

26

50

.048

24

40

.110

20

30

.445

10

 

Additional Parameters:

Body weight = 1.25 kg

Functional interaural distance= 134 µs

(Time required for sound to travel around the head from one auditory meatus to the other.)

 

Comments: Threshold values taken from original data.

Last Updated: 6/27/22