Other Turtle Discussion :: do turtles have ears?

[iamcharlesyim]

or do they just call it red ear slider because of the red markings?

[industrial_girl_2000]

Yup.....red "ears".

But the red markings aren't necessarily ears. They are just markings on their heads which give them that distinctive appearance. The turtle ear is actually a small round area of skin on the side of their head, kinda like a frog's ears (you can see the round wrinkle that outlines the flap of skin on the side of their head).

[marisa]

They actually have a fully developed hearing system, but lack openings ( or outer ears, like we have). They don't have acute hearing, but are said to hear lower tones better than higher ones. And they're very sensitive to vibrations.

[cam722]

Ok, I looked this up because I remember reading something regarding turtles" ears" and learning it during high school biology.

Turtles can hear and do, in fact, have ears. They do not, however, have a "pinna" which is the visible external portion of the ear that one normally thinks of as the ear. Only the mammals have this external structure. It is thought that the pinna helps to channel soundwaves to the ear drum. As far as turtles are concerned, if you look closely, just behind their jaw, you will notice a small pore or opening in their head. This is the opening of their ear and is where sound vibrations are transmitted so that they can hear.

[industrial_girl_2000]

They definitely hear very well.

Sheba can always hear when I am opening a can of something in the kitchen & comes runnin'......LOL!