Reptiles can make Sound too

Generally, when people think about sounds that animals make them immediately think of the cute and cuddly animals as well as generally the elaborate sounds of a bird but no one really thinks about the reptiles. This could be because they are not as memorable as some of the other animals or I could also be because people rarely associate sound with these animals. Now in actual fact certain reptiles do in fact make sounds like the rest of the animal kingdom.  Turtles and tortoises are two members of the reptilian world who produce sound.

Several studies have shown that one particular tortoise’s species produce roars and bellows as a part of their mating and courtship rituals (Campbell, 1967).  It has also been noted that several other species produces sounds during courtship and under other circumstances (Campbell, 1967). The sea turtle in particular has been credited with a ‘mercy cry’, which is like a piping sound, roars and grunts of anger in times of distress (Campbell, 1967). Other authors have also noted that three species make a grunting sound while mating and one of those species has also been recorded with making a “low piteous cry” and a “short rasping call” (Campbell, 1967). These are just some examples they in particular, our turtle and tortoises species, have been recorded to be making sounds in one aspect of their life or another. Now our snake friends do actually make noise, just not in the most conventional sense.

Our snake friends, the rattle snake are the most notorious snake for making an amazing sound with its tail. These 6 species of rattlesnake all show some species variation in their rattle patterns (Fenton, 1990). The snake individuals there is a variation in the low frequencies and the actual bandwidth of the snakes tail (Fenton, 1990). There has been an evolution of the snake’s medium frequency rattling and the broad band sounds over time (Fenton, 1990).  The purpose of the rattling is a signal which has been designed to attract the attention of other animals whose response will reflect the hearing characteristics and pervious experience of that animal (Fenton, 1990).  To see the rattle snake in action, take a look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkyKliH1X3c. As you have seen here there is actually a lot of sound which occurs in the reptile world and their sounds should be admired as much as any other animals sound.

Works Cited

Campbell, H., 1967. Sound production in two species of tortoises. Herpetologica , 23(3), pp. 204-209.

Fenton, B., 1990. Why Rattle Snake ?. Herpetology , 24(3), pp. 274-279.