Department of Psychology

Audiogram of the grey short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica)

 

Data from: Frost, S.B., and Masterton, R.B. (1994) Hearing in primitive mammals: Monodelphis domestica and marmosa elegans. Hearing Research, 76, 67-72.

 

Absolute thresholds (in dB re 20 µN/m2) for five short-tailed opossums

(designated A through E)

Frequency (in kHz)

Individual Thresholds (in dB)

Average

A

B

C

D

E

1

94

96

95

2

55

75

77

76

71

4

50

56

55.5

56

54.5

8

19

27

22.5

25

25

23.5

16

36

31

16

17

15

23

32

36

35

29.5

30

29

32

64

30

35

30

28

26.5

30

75

63

70

40

52.5

54

56

85

85

88

86.5


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

2.05

78

60

3.15

76

50

4.4

72

40

5.6

68

30

6.9

54


Additional Parameters:

Body weight =90 g

Functional interaural distance= 114 µs

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

 

Comments: Threshold values taken from Frost and Masterton,1994.

For another audiogram, see: Reimer, K., and Bauman, S. (1995) Behavioral audiogram of the Brazilian grey short tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica (Metatheria, Didelphidae). Zoology, 99, 121-127.

Last Updated: 6/27/22