Basilar papilla facts for kids

The basilar papilla is a special hearing part found in the inner ear of animals like lizards, amphibians, and birds. It's similar to the organ of Corti that mammals have for hearing. This tiny organ helps these animals detect sounds from their surroundings.

What is the Basilar Papilla?

The basilar papilla is made of tiny cells called "hair cells." Even though they are called hair cells, they are actually special skin-like cells. These cells are super important for hearing. They help turn sound vibrations into signals that the brain can understand.

Hair Cells: Tiny Sound Detectors

These amazing hair cells are different from the hearing cells in mammals. If they get damaged, they can actually grow back! This is a special ability that helps these animals keep their hearing sharp. Scientists have found that a tiny molecule called miR181a helps these cells regrow after an injury. This regrowth is very important for their survival.

How Animals Use the Basilar Papilla

Animals use their basilar papilla for many important things. For example, the spring peeper frog uses it to find a mate. Female spring peepers have a basilar papilla that is very good at hearing specific sounds. It is tuned to hear sounds between 2100 and 3700 Hz.

Male spring peepers make calls to attract females. Females prefer the lower-pitched calls from the males. The special tuning of the basilar papilla helps the female frogs hear these specific calls. This allows them to choose the best partner.