I live near woods in SE England that contain a lot of spotted deer and am always amazed at the sensitivity of their hearing. I would like to construct a replica of a deer's ear to get it analysed as to why it collects sound so well. Can anyone tell me where to purchase a plastic deer's ear (any deer) so accurate I could use it for testing its accoustic properties?
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I did then cut the ear butt off and place it over your ear, WOW! You will understand part of why they can hear.
Take your right hand and cup it slightly. Place it up to your face where the tips of your fingers are touching the top of your ear. Now say something. You'll be astonished at the volume of the voice you hear in your ear. Big ears relate to hand assists. In the earlier part of the last century, people with hard hearing carried a huge trumpet affair that was plugged into the ear canal and the horn was pointed toward the sound object. Same thing holds true with putting a glass against a wall and placing your ear on the glass bottom. Sound is only vibration and any vibration can be magnified with enlarged hearing receptors. An elephant has adequate hearing, but when disturbed, look at how the ears open to catch any possible sounds.
......But you will also have to take into account the inner ear anatomy. The acoustic screening ability of the exterior ear surface and the hair patterns of the ear are all contributing factors. The two most highly respected animals in Africa for their hearing are the Kudu(large ears) and the Warthog(relatively small ears). So there are factors other than just the ear size, that contribute to the hearing ability of an animal. I would suspect that the ear anatomy would also have a role in screening out the environmental noise that would be irrelivant in the survival of the animal. I would also suspect that some research has already been done in this area. Your time may be better spent in seeing if the information you are seeking hasn't already been documented.
I heard that its hearing WASN'T that good, but that it had evolved a very special sense for vibrations in the soil and reacted as if it were sounds. I was told that since it dens up in holes, this is a necessary sense for its survival in that a leopard, lion, hyena or dozens of other bad guys could await its coming out to pounce on it. You already know I'm no African hunter, but I wonder which scenario is correct now. I know the Walker's Game Ear works well for me, however. LMAO.
I would try the Brad Eppley Whitetail Earliners,ELE02 and ELC02 sold by WASCO.One has inner detail,one does not.These are accurately shaped and as close to cartilage material as is available.Less than $6.00 a pair.Sarah is right.Put your ear inside one of these and you won't believe the difference in your hearing.