Question

State whether the following statement is true or false. Large ears of the elephant help it to hear very loud sounds only.

Answer 1

Hint: As we know that it is feasible to use the variation in the time and intensity of a noise reaching each ear as a sign for sound localization. In order to assist localized noise elephants extend their ears perpendicular to their heads. It was stated that wider the gap between the ears of an animal better the ability to detect sound.

Complete answer:
Yes, the above statement is true. Elephant’s large ears help them to hear very loud sounds. At distinguishing sounds, elephants are really good. Through those large ears elephants do much different stuff also one feature is that when their body temperature is high they will lower it themselves. The blood flowing through the ears is close to the outside of the body of the elephant and as they flap around heat could be released. Some scientists also suspect that for enhanced listening large ears redirect the sound through their inner ear. Elephants threaten using their large ears. We can find a web of small blood vessels inside their ears. The surface of the ear is very thin and the layer is very near to the blood vessels. Heat is expelled from the ears when the body temperature of the animal is more than the temperature of the outer atmosphere.

Additional information:
Blood vessels releasing heat is not the only useful function of an elephant's ears. They act like giant fans to create a cool breeze as they flap their ears back and forth which speed up the cooling rate.

Note: The elephant's huge ears allow them to hear even the mild noise. In the hot and humid weather of the rainforest they (ears) also assist the elephant to remain cool. The ears of an elephant can cool its body upto 5°C. The African elephant has the largest ears. Asian elephants live in the shade and cooler rainforest cover and thus have small ears.