Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Subterranean mammals rely to a great extent on audition for communication and to be alerted to danger. The only hitherto published report on burrow acoustics revealed that in tunnels of blind mole-rats (Spalax ehrenbergi), airborne sounds of 440 Hz propagated best whereas lower and higher frequencies were effectively attenuated. Morpho-functional analyses classify the ear of subterranean mammals as a low-sensitivity and low-frequency device. Concordantly, hearing is characterized by low sensitivity and a restricted frequency range tuned to low frequencies (0.5-4 kHz). Some authors considered the restricted hearing in subterranean mammals vestigial and degenerate due to under-stimulation. In contrast to this view stand a rich (mostly low-frequency) vocal repertoire and progressive structural specializations of the middle and inner ear. Thus, other authors considered these hearing characteristics adaptive. To test the hypothesis that acoustical environment in burrows of different species of subterranean mammals is similar, we measured sound attenuation in burrows of Fukomys mole-rats (formerly known as Cryptomys, cf. Kock et al. 2006) of two differently sized species at different locations in Zambia. We show that in these burrows, low-frequency sounds (200-800 Hz) are not only least attenuated but also their amplitude may be amplified like in a stethoscope (up to two times over 1 m). We suggest that hearing sensitivity has decreased during evolution of subterranean mammals to avoid over-stimulation of the ear in their natural environment.

Functionally relevant features and parameters of the outer, middle, and inner ear were studied morphologically and morphometrically in two species of voles, smaller Microtus arvalis and larger Arvicola terrestris. The findings in these fossorial (i.e., burrowing) rodents with components of surface activity were compared with respective findings reported for taxonomically related muroid rodents representing the same size classes but different eco-morphotypes: obligate subterranean rodents (Ellobius talpinus and Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies) and generalized rodents (Mus domesticus and Rattus norvegicus). The ear in voles was characterized by traits reported for subterranean rodents. The eardrum was round, without a distinct pars flaccida, and had an area of 5.4 mm2 in M. arvalis and 9 mm2 in A. terrestris. The middle ear exhibited reduced goniale, enlarged incus nearly parallel to the manubrium of the malleus. The malleus-incus lever ratio amounted to 2.1 (M. arvalis) and 2.0 (A. terrestris). The malleus-incus complex weighed about 0.8 mg in both vole species. The stapedial footplate had an area of 0.3 mm2 in M. arvalis and 0.4 mm2 in A. terrestris. The cochlea had 2.3 coils in both vole species; the basilar membrane was 8.5 mm and 10.5 mm long in M. arvalis and A. terrestris, respectively. There were on average 1,030 (M. arvalis) and 1,220 (A. terrestris) inner hair cells, and 3,760 (M. arvalis) and 4,250 (A. terrestris) outer hair cells in the organ of Corti. In quantitative terms, all these (as well as some further) traits and parameters were intermediate (related to body size) between those reported for generalized rodents on the one hand and subterranean ones on the other. The sound transmission system of the ear seems to be best tuned to frequencies of about 8-16 kHz with a high-frequency cut-off at about 50-60 kHz. The ear of A. terrestris seems to be tuned to somewhat lower frequencies than that in M. arvalis. In this aspect as well as regarding hearing sensitivity (as judged from the mechanical transmission parameters), voles can be considered intermediate not only in their lifestyle but also in their hearing abilities between the subterranean rodents (mole-vole and blind mole-rat) and the surface dwellers (house mouse and Norway rat).

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Abstract:Within the family Bathyergidae (subterranean African mole-rats), Cryptomys and Coetomys are the most speciose genera. Whereas each species can be characterized karyologically and from mitochondrial gene sequence data genetically, most of them exhibit marked intraspecific polymorphism and an overlap in morphological and biometric traits making them very hard to discern for taxonomic studies. As a consequence, pelage colour, body size and craniometric characters are inappropriate for species diagnosis.Here we report on a comparative morphological and biometric analysis of the auditory ossicles in seven species of Coetomys and one species of Cryptomys. While species can be identified by a unique combination of oto-morphological features, there is also a strong correlation between biometry of functionally relevant traits and the habitat. Middle ear biomechanical efficiency and hence hearing sensitivity appears to improve with increasing humidity of the habitat. This trend is evident even when comparing different populations at an intraspecific level.