Elephants Talk Long-Distance Through Their Toes

The toes of elephants are so sophisticated that the animals can hear low-frequency rumblings trumpeted by other elephants miles away, say Stanford University researchers.

The "listening" elephant catches the vibrations with its toes, behind which lie pads of acoustically sensitive fat. Similar tissue is in the heels of the elephant's feet and in its trunk, which augment the toe sensors. The vibrations speed along bones to the elephant's middle ear. They are processed in the auditory cortex area of the brain, just like regular sound.

The messages vibrating through the ground appear to be a rich form of pachyderm communication, used to "raise long-distance alarms, offer advice, advertise love yearnings, or just swap greetings." Elephants can also distinguish between the rumbles of friends and strangers.

Elephants' toes get the message, study finds [Boston Globe]

Image: Mark Lee