Are axolotls deaf or can they hear? And how can these aquatic animals perceive sounds underwater in the first place?
Axolotls aren’t deaf. But not much is known about axolotls’ sense of hearing and the way they perceive sounds is quite different from humans.
The only known fact is that their sense of hearing isn’t well developed, but that they can “hear” some sounds.
They do this with the help of their lateral line organ by sensing vibrations in the water. In addition, their inner ear of axolotls is very different from that of humans, and so far the only proven fact is that they are most capable of perceiving low-pitched sounds.
How do axolotls hear?
Because the inner ear of axolotls is shaped very differently compared to humans, it is difficult to determine what they can hear.
They will be able to perceive most sounds through their lateral line organ. The function of the lateral line organ is also described as a “remote sense of touch”, which allows them to perceive and locate vibrations in the water. This allows them to detect their prey, even in the dark and with their poor eyesight.
The lateral line organ extends longitudinally from the head across the body of axolotls. The sounds in the air become oscillations and vibrations in the water, which the axolotl can perceive via its lateral line organ.
What can axolotls hear?
In tests examining the hearing of axolotls, researchers found that axolotls could hear best in the 600 Hz range. It is believed that axolotls can hear approximately in the range of 100Hz to 3 kHz.
This means that they can generally hear lower sounds better than higher sounds, but in an overall sense it is very difficult to estimate the hearing ability of axolotls. In comparison, humans can hear sounds in the range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
If you want to read more about axolotl hearing, here and here are two studies that go deeper into this.
Can axolotls hear people?
Yes, even though they only perceive the voice as vibrations in the water, axolotls can most likely hear you when you talk to them.
Can loud music harm axolotls?
Due to the fact that the sounds turn into vibrations in the water, loud music is likely to be uncomfortable for axolotls and can quickly stress them out.
Can axolotls make noises?
Yes, although it is rare, axolotls can make noises. Since they don’t have vocal cords, these sounds are usually made when they breathe with their lungs or when they swallow air from the surface of the water.
These sounds are often described as squeaks or hiccups and are very quiet. Here is an article with more information on the sounds axolotls can make.
Conclusion
Axolotl’s sense of hearing is not very good and poorly researched. They can perceive sounds through vibrations in the water via their lateral line organ and seem to be able to hear deep sounds particularly well.