These Feet Were Made For Hearing
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009I wasn’t quite sure I believed it when it was mentioned in my speech technology class, but this article from the BBC has some really cool findings about how elephants communicate through their feet, using the ground as an acoustic medium.
“We are focusing on the idea that elephants may be able to detect seismic vibrations through the earth,” explained fellow researcher Lynette Hart, from University of California, Davis.
“That would give them information about the location of other elephants, whether they are in distress, if they are family members and also tell them something about distant weather patterns.”
…
By sensing the seismic waves caused by the foot stomping of their counterparts, the elephants may be able to interpret the warning signals of far-off danger.
“[Elephants] are highly social; they vocalise often and they like to maintain acoustic contact with other herds.
“If they were able to do this over a much longer distance, then elephants could forage at much longer distances in the dry season and still maintain social contact.
That’s it. I have nothing else on this front.