The post Animals With Unusual Ears—and Why They Matter appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Quick Take

• For most animals, ears are necessary survival tools, allowing them to communicate with others and listen for predators.

• Chickens have small openings on the sides of their heads which are often covered by feathers.

• Owls have asymmetrical ear openings, meaning one ear is slightly higher than the other.

• Turtle’s ears are specialized for low-frequency noises and vibrations.

Ears are a pretty essential part of our bodies as they help with hearing and balance. While we’re aware of what common animals’ ears look like, some animals sport ears covered by fur. Have you ever wondered what some of these hidden animal ears look like? This Instagram post by @northwestwildlifesanctuary shows a sloth’s ear, a surprising first look for many viewers. The sloth’s cute ears are fascinating, raising questions about what other animals’ ears look like. Read on to learn about an assortment of animal ears!

1. Sloth

Sloths, at first glance, almost look earless. Thanks to their dense and thick fur, their ears are often covered. Their external ears are small and subtle, and perfectly round. Despite having tiny, hidden ears, sloths’ hearing is excellent. They are able to listen for predators and other dangers in their rainforest habitats. Similar to other animals, the ears’ internal structure is able to pick up on a vast range of sounds, even with such small openings.

2. Chickens

Like other birds, chickens don’t have external ear flaps like mammals do. Rather, they have small openings on the sides of their heads which are often covered by feathers. This helps protect the ears from outside debris, ensuring they stay clean. In addition to chickens, but most bird species have strong ear structures that allow them to hear calls from other birds. As they often communicate across long distances, their sense of hearing is important to their survival.

3. Snakes

Snakes lack external ears or eardrums. These reptiles utilize a hearing system that relies on registering sound through bone conduction. Bone conduction is the process of transmitting sound vibrations directly to the inner ear through the skull bones, meaning an eardrum or canal is not needed. Because of this, snakes can “hear” the sound of footsteps as the vibrations travel through the ground and into their jaw and skull bones.

4. Owls

Owls have special ears. Most species have asymmetrical ear openings, meaning one ear is slightly higher than the other. While it may sound strange, these lopsided ears are designed for a very practical purpose. Asymmetrical hearing helps to pinpoint sound three-dimensionally. In simpler terms, they have strong hearing all around their head that helps them locate prey in the dark night. Their odd ears make owls some of the best nocturnal hunters.

5. Turtles

Turtles don’t have ear flaps like humans, but they do have a hearing system beneath the skin and scales on the sides of their heads. A thin eardrum connects to the inner ear through bones. Their ears are specialized for low-frequency noises and vibrations, helping them detect predators in both air and underwater environments.

6. Lizards

Finally, lizards also do not have ear flaps. Instead, they have ear openings on the sides of their heads. These openings lead to a short canal with an eardrum at the end. Like mammals, lizards have a bone that transmits sound to the inner ear known as the columella. The lack of external ear structure is important, given their often-sandy environments. The small canal prevents sand and other debris from entering and obstructing their hearing.

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