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Hearing differences among Hawaiian squirrelfish (family Holocentridae) related to differences in the peripheral auditory system

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Auditory sensitivity as a function of frequency has been behaviorally determined for two species of fish from the teleost family Holocentridae which is characterized by marked variation in peripheral auditory structures.

  2. 2.

    Best sensitivity measured forMyripristis kuntee was -50 dB re: 1 dyne/cm2 for frequencies between 300 and 2,000 Hz, while best sensitivity measured forAdioryx xantherythrus was -28 dB at 500 Hz (Figs. 1 and 2).

  3. 3.

    Both species can detect sounds at 100 Hz while the high frequency end of the auditory range extends up to 3,000 Hz forM. kuntee and to 800 Hz forA. xantherythrus (Figs. 1 and 2).

  4. 4.

    It is hypothesized that these differences in auditory capabilities are related to differences in sound transmission characteristics of the peripheral auditory system.

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Author notes

  1. Sheryl Coombs & Arthur N. Popper

    Present address: Department of Anatomy, Georgetown University, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 3900 Reservoir Rd., 20007, Washington, D.C., N.W., USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Sensory Sciences, University of Hawaii, 96822, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

    Sheryl Coombs & Arthur N. Popper

Authors
  1. Sheryl Coombs
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  2. Arthur N. Popper
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Additional information

This research was supported by grant NS-09374 from NINCDS to A.N. Popper and by predoctoral fellowship 1 F31 MHO7441-01 from NIMH to S. Coombs.

The authors wish to thank W. Akaka, Dr. R. Nakamura, R. Shoemaker, C. Tamaru and M. Valdez for assistance in various phases of the research. Appreciation is also expressed to Jim Peck of the Hawaiian Electrical Co. and to Dr. Leighton Taylor of the Waikiki Aquarium for invaluable assistance in collecting animals and to the Hawaii Laboratory of the National Marine Fisheries Services for providing additional support facilities. We also thank Dr.'s R.R.Fay, W.C. Stebbins, and W.N. Tavolga for making valuable comments on the manuscript.

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Coombs, S., Popper, A.N. Hearing differences among Hawaiian squirrelfish (family Holocentridae) related to differences in the peripheral auditory system. J. Comp. Physiol. 132, 203–207 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00614491

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