Elephants use seismic ground vibrations for communication

Elephants possess a sophisticated dual-channel communication system, using not only airborne calls but also seismic vibrations transmitted through the ground, according to a new study published on July 15, 2026. Research led by scientists from Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Institute reveals that this bone-conduction hearing allows elephants to detect signals over distances exceeding 10 kilometers, roughly double the range of their airborne vocalizations.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Audiology and Otology, explains that vibrations from footsteps or other ground-based signals travel up through an elephant's feet and legs, into its skull, and directly to the inner ear. This secondary pathway is particularly effective due to the animal's unique anatomy. The researchers found that elephants' middle ear bones, which are nine times heavier and attached to an eardrum seven times larger than a human's, vibrate most effectively at low frequencies around 400 Hz. This allows for more efficient transmission of vibrations to the cochlea, where they are converted into neural signals.

Senior author Dr. Sunil Puria noted that while humans often find...