Abstract
The vertebrate ear can analyse the frequency components of sound with high resolution, recognizing complex acoustic signals even against a noisy background1. By contrast, insect ears can separate only broad-frequency bands, resulting in a categorical perception of sound2. We have discovered an insect, the cicada Tettigetta josei, that has a capacity for fine- frequency resolution, which could explain the evolution of frequency-modulated communication signals in cicadas.
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Fonseca, P., Münch, D. & Hennig, R. How cicadas interpret acoustic signals . Nature 405, 297–298 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35012696
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35012696
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