Scientists uncover auditory 'sixth sense' in geckos
Originally published by University of Maryland , on October 4, 2024 A tokay gecko. Credit: Duncan Leitch University of Maryland biologists have identified a hidden sensory talent in geckos that's shaking up what we thought we knew about animal hearing . In a study published in Current Biology on October 4, 2024, the researchers revealed that geckos use the saccule —a part of their inner ear traditionally associated with maintaining balance and body positioning—t o detect low-frequency vibrations . The paper is titled " Auditory pathway for detection of vibration in the tokay gecko ." According to the researchers, this special "sixth sense" also plays a complementary role to the geckos' normal hearing and the way they sense the world around them . The team believes that this previously unrecognized hearing mechanism may be present in other reptilian species as well , challenging existing ideas about how animal sensory systems evolved and