Questions Authors Ask: Do Dragons Have Ears?

Or, "How do reptilian organisms hear?"

This post will not be very scientific at all

As a writer, one might find themselves trying to include, describe, or understand a concept that is foreign to them.  For instance we humans have these specialized flaps of skin and cartilage on the sides of our heads that assist us in being able to hear a specific range of acoustic vibrations that allow us to detect danger and communicate.  Many other mammals have similar structures that allow them to hear the specific sounds that are pertinent to their lives.  And science tells us that most creatures have the ability to detect vibrations in order to receive information from their environment.  So to be wondering why the creature you made up in your book is able to hear something seems like a trivial issue.

Until it keeps you from writing because you are struggling over whether your characters have "ears" or not.  Well, you might say, "Yes, Shane, your creatures have what science would call an ear if they can hear anything at all."  Okay, I grant you that, but what kind of ear?

Have you ever stopped to consider how an ear works?  Because I sure have!  More than I ever thought I would need or want to!  For instance, most reptiles have an ear that works like a drum: a membrane stretched over the aural cavity that transfers vibrations to the inner ear and thus the eardrum, allowing for the ability to hear sounds.  Inside the ear, there is a bone that vibrates and transfers the vibration into the inner ear, where the auditory nerve is.  But because of the structure of reptile skulls and ears, it is most likely that these vibrations are not received as distinct sounds.  So what do lizards hear?  Probably something akin to having your hands over or plugs in your ears: muffled or somewhat distorted noise.  Mammals, however, have ears with the external flap that is meant to funnel vibrations into the ear, which seems to allow mammals to differentiate between sounds better than lizards.  Also, there are three separate bones inside the ear that transfer the vibrations differently, allowing for seemingly more precise auditory sensations.  

This may be directly related to how these species communicate with each other.  Lizards and reptiles tend to use color, scent, and body language to communicate, which is also supported by the general lack of specific vocalizations among reptile species.  Mammals on the other hand use vocalizations exclusively in some species, while others mix in body language, color, and smell.  

"But Shane," you say, "Birds, frogs, and whales use vocalizations constantly and they don't have external ear flaps or whatever you're talking about."

Yeah...  I know.  However, those creatures tend to rely on either very high pitched or very low pitched vocalizations.  They do not tend to have the subtleties of speech or even the whimper of a sad puppy to them.  (But then again whale songs can be very complicated and full of subtlety so what do I know."

Ultimately, this may all be a meaningless distraction.  Then why am I so torn up about it?  I don't know!  Maybe I needed to just write this to vent my frustration with my lack of writing.  It ultimately will not matter much to the story.  My characters communicate, and as long as readers accept that it doesn't matter if they have ears like humans, mammals, or anything else.