The range of human hearing depends not only on the volume of sound (measured in decibels), but also on its height (measured in hertz). The average auditory ability of a person allows him to perceive the frequency of sound in the range of 20-20 000 Hz. A conversation of average volume corresponds to 60 dB, but you can hear it even at a volume of 20 dB. Many people mistakenly think that 0 dB is absolute silence. However, there are people with such hearing sensitivity that they hear sound at 0 dB or even −15 dB.
The danger to your hearing begins with a noise of 85 dB, plus 35 dB, and you will feel pain in your ears, and at 150 decibels your eardrum can be damaged. Interestingly, with all the “skills”, a person may not hear a lot of sounds because they are outside the reach of frequency or tonality. One of these sounds is a whistle made by a dog whistle. And also we do not hear the roar of turbines, perceiving it as a vibration.
Why are we telling you all this? Just now we will tell you about the 15 most high-profile animals from around the world! We’ll warn you right away that we are talking about animals that spend a fair amount of their life on land, as sperm whales will be unrivaled among waterfowl. With their 230 decibels, they left a blue whale far behind them, making a “total” 180 dB sound.
15
Pike alligator - 90 dB
Another name for this animal is the Mississippi alligator. Despite the low frequency of sounds made by the alligator, they are quite high. Their "screams" are often compared to the sound of a bellows. Often, alligators emit a war cry during battles with each other or when repelling attacks of large animals such as a cougar or a bear. It is interesting that the Mississippi alligator can make a sound of 90 dB not only above, but also under water. Thus, he wants to intimidate the enemy by hinting at him his impressive dimensions.
14
Koki - 100 dB
Koki is called one of the species of leaf frogs, which got its name precisely due to unusually loud sounds. Just think about it - frogs scream louder than alligators! Coca frogs come from Puerto Rico, but, like all the inhabitants of this island, they are gradually moving to the United States. Now they can be found in Hawaii and in some areas of the California peninsula. A few years ago, coca invaded the sleeping areas of one of the Hawaiian cities, having organized a multi-day marathon of endless serenades. The inhabitants of California did not tolerate the tricks of loud frogs and began to spray hot water on the lawns, which did not allow amphibians to multiply.
By the way, interesting facts about frogs that you might not know about are collected on our site in this fascinating article.
13
Three-bell ringer - 100 dB
The habitat of this bird, also called the three-armed blacksmith, is Central America. She is interesting not only for her loud and diverse singing, but also for the difference in the plumage of males and females. The male is distinguished by a plumage of brown color with a white “neck” and head. The olive-yellow color of the females makes them completely unlike males. The males of the three-headed blacksmiths make a peculiar sound, reminiscent of the bells, which is considered the loudest among all the birds on the planet. Usually with this sound they try to attract the attention of females.
12
Hyena - 112 dB
Everyone knows a hyena thanks to the peculiar giggle that it emits during an attack on a victim. However, few people know that the volume of these sounds is 112 dB. A hyena can not only laugh frighteningly, the strength of her bite is unusually great. Having gathered a flock of several individuals, they can compete with the lions in the struggle for prey, although they do not disdain carrion as well. It is interesting to know how hyenas gather “like-minded people”? The frantic laughter that scares most mammals in the area.
11
Hippo - 114 dB
Did you know that cute hippos are the most dangerous animals of the African continent, which annually kill more people than all wild cats. Although they belong to the suborder of pigs, which leaves an imprint on their movements, hippos can accelerate to 33 km / h. The animal makes a cry of 114 decibels, scaring off its enemies or wanting to conquer the territory from its relative. And also the cry of a male hippo attracts a female during the mating season.
10
Leo - 114 dB
Despite the fact that the lion is not the strongest and not the fastest representative of the jungle, he bears the title of king of beasts. What the lion is definitely not inferior to its relatives from the cat family is the volume of the roar, which corresponds to 114 decibels. The terrible roar spreads for many kilometers around, convening a pride or scaring away enemies. Also, lions with the help of voice show their dominance in the occupied territory. At the same time, cute “cats” can purr and be very tender with their females.
On our site thebiggest.ru you can find out about the largest cat breeds.
9
Wolf - 115 dB
Gray Wolf is one of the main characters of many Russian fairy tales, where he seems to be a dangerous but unfortunate partner of a sly fox. In life, the nocturnal wolf is even more dangerous and aggressive. From documentaries and feature films, we know that wolves publish a lingering howl, but why do they do it? Wolves live in packs, peculiar wolf "gangs" number up to 15 individuals. When two flocks meet in the forest, with their howl, they claim rights to the territory, trying to drive out competitors. The maximum volume of sound made by a wolf can reach 115 dB.
8
African elephant - 117 dB
The social activity of the African elephant is unusually high. The animal is characterized by developed mental abilities and a variety of sounds, with the help of which the elephant communicates with relatives. He makes a roar, the sound of trumpets, roars and even snorts. With the help of a specific sound, an elephant gives out one of the emotions, for example, signals danger or shows anger. Known to all, the roar of an elephant, reminiscent of a pioneer horn, spreads over 10 km in all directions. It is not surprising, because the volume of the elephant roar can reach 117 decibels.
7
Bull Frog - 119 dB
This animal is also called an oxfrog. They live in North America, mainly in the eastern regions of the continent. The sound of bullfrogs reaches a volume of 119 decibels. Interestingly, in many species of “loud” animals, the sound of a male or female is dominant. In bullfrogs, both male and female individuals “cry” equally loudly, which allows them to be called the most noisy amphibians. When the mating season begins, the male frogs unite in company, calling the females in unison, then real hell begins!
6
Cicada cyclochila australasiae - 120 dB
This type of cicadas native to Australia also bears the nickname of the “green grocer,” and is famous for its unusually loud sound. Just imagine, an insect makes sounds that can harm the human hearing. The network has many videos with the chirping of this type of cicadas, the volume of which reaches 120 dB. Interestingly, sounds are made by exoskeleton vibration. The loudest sounds are characteristic of males cyclochila australasiae, attracting females in this way in the mating season. The motivation for male cicadas is quite high, the louder the sound, the more partners!
5
Northern Elephant - 126 dB
The second representative of elephants in our ranking of the loudest animals on thebiggest.ru. True, this elephant does not live on land, but in water, namely in the eastern waters of the Pacific Ocean. The northern elephant seal surpassed its terrestrial namesake in terms of the volume of the sound produced with a result of 126 decibels. The roar of each individual of the northern elephant seal is different, like the timbre of a human voice. Thanks to this, members of the group can identify a single individual. And the roar of these animals has a different tonality, which allows them to warn relatives about the danger or look for representatives of their group. Females of this species of real seals with the help of a roar call the cubs, preventing them from sailing to a dangerous distance.
4
Moluccan Cockatoo - 129 dB
Belonging to the family of parrots, the Moluccan cockatoo can with all responsibility claim their title to one of the noisiest birds in the world. They live in a relatively small area in eastern Indonesia, however, they can be held in captivity anywhere in the world, making the Moluccan cockatoo popular among bird lovers. True, many people who want to have a beautiful bird do not take into account the volume of sounds made by their favorite pet. The shout of this cockatoo species reaches a volume of 129 decibels, which can cause serious damage to the ears of their owners. The booming voice of a parrot is heard at a distance of almost 9 km. Not surprisingly, most owners of these birds complain of earaches and hearing problems.
3
Cacapo - 132 dB
The second name of kakapo is the nightingale parrot, which already speaks of his vocal abilities. This animal is endemic to New Zealand and leads the ranking of the loudest birds, outstripping the Moluccas by only 3 decibels, although the distance of the sound produced is 2 km behind the latter. The source of cacapo singing is the chest cavity. Interestingly, these birds can live up to 90 years, while they lead a nocturnal lifestyle. You will not wish such loud neighbors of long-livers and the enemy!
2
Great Hare - 137 dB
Despite the loudness of the sound emitted by a large hare, the features of its frequency (reduced by 10 times) do not allow the human ear to perceive the screams of this species of bats. We can hear what the "lips" say to us, only using special technology. If we approach the bat at a distance of 1 decimeter, we feel the whole "charm" of sound at 137 decibels, which can harm our ear. But moving away from the animal by 1 meter, we will hear noise not exceeding 20 dB. The sound for large hare-lips is a navigation system. They calculate the time during which the cry reaches a certain point, after which it is reflected by an object in their path. Thus, bats get a sound map of the area, overcoming obstacles in the dark.
1
Howler - 140 dB
The name of this monkey speaks for itself. The wild roar emitted by the primates makes them the loudest terrestrial creatures in the world. Their cries of 140 decibels terrorize all animals of South and Central America within a radius of 5 kilometers. Given that the howlers live in groups of 5-15 individuals, one can imagine how unbearable is the neighborhood with them. Primates emit a cry, talking among themselves, and also warning comrades about impending danger in the person of predators or hunter-poachers. And also the roar of an adult can pursue the goal of convening their cubs.
Author: Maxim Svistunov