How Well Do Guinea Pigs Hear? Do They Hear Better Than Humans?

Guinea pigs are a rodent species with many interesting features and attributes. These furry potatoes are known for having an excellent sense of smell, a keen sense of touch, and 340 degrees of vision that allow them to see almost all the way around their body, but how well do guinea pigs hear? Are guinea pigs sensitive to sound? Let’s find out!

Guinea pigs can hear well. Their keen sense of hearing allows them to hear higher-pitched sound frequencies between 150Hz and 50 000Hz, but they cannot hear low-frequency sounds as clearly. They use this sense to protect themselves from potential danger, but this means they are easily startled by loud noises.

Guinea pigs evolved to live in the wild before they were domesticated, and like most wild animals, they developed very keen senses to protect themselves from predation and other dangers. Let’s explore the hearing ability of guinea pigs to learn how well they can hear and to determine how guinea pig hearing compares to their other senses.

How Well Do Guinea Pigs Hear?

Guinea pigs are fascinating animals with very enhanced senses. They rely heavily on these senses to find food, protect themselves from predators, and avoid harm. Hearing is among the most acute senses guinea pigs have.

Guinea pigs have a very keen sense of hearing. They have a very wide hearing range and can clearly hear frequencies that range from 150Hz to 50 000Hz. This range is far higher than what humans can perceive, but guinea pigs cannot hear low-frequency sounds as clearly.

The range of frequencies that guinea pigs can hear is relatively high when compared to the hearing of other mammals, which means that guinea pigs are much more sensitive to higher-pitched sounds.

This ability is very helpful for guinea pigs to keep them aware of potential danger and acts as an early warning system for approaching predators.

Guinea pigs rely very heavily on their hearing and are also very sensitive to sound. They have much larger ears than many other species of rodents and can move and adjust the angle of their ears slightly to change the direction of their hearing.

The keen hearing that these animals are equipped with results from adapting in the wild to listen for predators, as hearing the approach of danger gives guinea pigs a head start to run to a safe space. Their wide range of vision also adapted from their ancestors’ survival needs in the wild.

Are Guinea Pigs Sensitive To Sound?

Guinea pigs have a very wide audible frequency range, and they can hear sounds from very long distances. This incredible sense of hearing is critical for the survival of guinea pigs in the wild. But how sensitive are pet guinea pigs to sound?

The adept hearing range of guinea pigs makes them very sensitive to sound. Guinea pigs have very sensitive ears compared to other mammals. They are sensitive to very loud sounds and are susceptible to hearing loss and damage from loud noises. This is why guinea pigs are so easily spooked by sounds, especially loud noises like fireworks or thunderstorms.

The ability to hear sounds from a long distance away means that any loud sounds are perceived as much louder to guinea pigs than they are to humans.

Studies conducted on the hearing abilities of guinea pigs found that these animals can easily sustain hearing loss and damage when exposed to loud sounds, especially in confined spaces.

This means that sounds can physically hurt guinea pigs and that they should not be exposed to sounds that are too loud, as it can also cause significant stress and fear. Guinea pigs have a very keen sense of hearing, and they are easily startled, frightened, hurt, and stressed by sound. For this reason, it’s a good idea to limit excessive noise or loud sounds around your guinea pig whenever possible.

Due to their sensitivity to high frequencies, guinea pigs can often hear sounds that humans cannot. This is why guinea pigs sometimes spook and bolt to their hiding places for seemingly no reason.

If you own guinea pigs, always remember that they have sensitive ears and can be easily hurt by loud sounds. They are designed to listen for sounds to protect themselves, which means they need plenty of quiet time throughout the day and night to sleep soundly.

Why Do Guinea Pigs Have Such Good Hearing?

Guinea pigs are equipped with a fantastic sense of hearing. These animals can hear a shockingly wide range of frequencies, they can hear sound from a very far distance, and they can hear even the faintest noises.

This sense of hearing has developed in guinea pigs to protect against predation. A guinea pig that cannot hear a predator coming is likely to become prey very quickly, but a guinea pig that can hear any potential danger is far more likely to escape to a safe place and avoid harm.

Hearing in guinea pigs is also used for other purposes, including communication between guinea pigs. However, the primary function of the high sensitivity of guinea pig hearing is to protect against predators.

Is Hearing The Guinea Pig’s Strongest Sense?

Hearing is a primary and critical sense for guinea pigs, but it is not their most sensitive sense.

The most sensitive and best sense that guinea pigs have is their sense of smell. Guinea pigs rely on smell far more than any other sense. Smell helps guinea pigs recognize danger, find food, interact with other guinea pigs, and it helps wild guinea pigs find their way back to their den.

Of all the senses that guinea pigs have, smell is the most important, but hearing is their second-most important sense and is a sense they rely heavily on in many situations.

Conclusion

Guinea pigs have a keen sense of hearing and can detect noises very easily. They cannot hear low-frequency sounds well, but higher frequencies are easily audible for guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are sensitive to sound, especially high-pitched sounds, so always be aware of this if you own guinea pigs.

It’s important to take time to understand how well guinea pigs hear so you can create a more forgiving, comfortable, and welcoming environment for your pets. Guinea pigs are quite sensitive to sound and should be subjected to loud noises as little as possible to keep them feeling safe and happy in their home.