Because of the limited hearing capacity of humans, several are left unaware of the sounds that animals make. Other than that, IFL Science also notes that because of the tendency to anthropomorphize several things, humans mistake the sounds that animals make as a medium of communication, even if such sounds do not mean much.
Nevertheless, some animals are armed with vocal organs that allow them to "talk." However, others do not possess such organs but still, make do with what they have. Here are illustrations of both cases.
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Axolotls Do Not Have Vocal Cords
Despite how these creatures seemingly bark, Axolotls do not have any vocal cords within their body. This means that these creatures technically cannot talk.
However, despite their lack of vocal organs, the species still can make sounds by contracting muscles or inhaling air from the water's surface. Such actions make axolotls create squeaking, hiccuping, and barking sounds.
While these creatures breathe in four ways, only one breathing method-through their lungs allow the gulping sound to be made.
Such sounds made by Axolotls are involuntary and do not signify communication. In fact, according to IFL Science, these creatures are deaf and have bad eyesight. Thus, axolotls primarily navigate through the world by relying on vibrations that they sense.
Snakes Make Hissing Sounds, but Most of Them Do Not Have Vocal Cords
According to Living on Earth, the North American Pine Snake is the only snake species with a vocal cord. Most other snake species do not have any corresponding vocal organs.
Nevertheless, IFL Science notes that few species have mechanisms similar to that of a vocal cord. For one, snakes under the genus Pituophis can create strong, bellowing sounds because of an anatomical feature unique to them.
While humans and various other sound-making species have vertically arranged cords set in pairs, the Pituophis type of snake only has one cord horizontally positioned at the larynx's top.
Nevertheless, even if more than 3,000 different snakes do not have vocal organs, these snakes still communicate a lot. For one, the hallmark rattling sound is made by more than 24 various kinds of rattlesnakes.
Only One Lizard Species Has Genuine Vocal Cords
Some lizard species can "talk." However, this number is not many, as many lizards can only hiss. In fact, according to IFL Science, among more than 7,000 various kinds of lizards, the gecko genus is the only one that has genuine vocal cords in its body.
Brittanica also notes how many gecko species have a voice, unlike several other reptiles.
The giant gecko of New Caledonia is one of the loudest gecko species. They are nocturnal creatures and tend to make noisy yips, growls, and squeaks at night. Like other geckos, this species makes sounds when mating, shooing away predators and protecting their area.
Not All Animal Have Vocal Cords; Not All Animal Sounds Signify Communication
While other animals do not have vocal organs of their own, this uniqueness shows that "talking" is an ability that not every animal has. Moreover, just as in the case of the axolotl, not all sounds mean communication. They can be noises that were involuntarily made.
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