Dr. Dan KillamWhile oysters lack ears, they still can hear, using statocysts, their balance organ. Researchers have found playing the soundscape from a healthy oyster reef attracts larvae to settle! They have evolved to settle on their ancestors to build reefs, and sound is a useful cue of a good spot! https://phys.org/news/2022-10-sea-soundscapes-summon-thousands-baby.html #clamFacts
shom@dantheclamman that's really neat that the larvae vibe to good sounds. I do wonder though, oysters don't have ears but use their balance organs for hearing and we use our ears as balancing organs, is this a coincidence? Or are balancing and hearing linked functions?!
@shom yes, I don't think they're always linked, but in this case it's convergent! Our liquid filled inner ear and the statocyst, a rolling little ball in a pouch, are both good at the double purpose of detecting gravity and sound :)
@dantheclamman that's so neat (and squishy), thank you.
You go you little ball in goopy pouch, thanks for the beats and balance!
You go you little ball in goopy pouch, thanks for the beats and balance!