Hearing Without Ears

Oysters don’t have ears, but they can hear. They use an organ called a statocyst to detect vibration and motion, and a recent study shows they also respond to sound. Researchers think this ability may help oysters detect the currents caused by passing predators or the inrush of tidal water bringing food.

This discovery not only reveals God’s creative design, it also emphasizes our responsibility as stewards over creation. Marine biologists have long been concerned about the harmful effects of human noise on ocean creatures. Now we’re learning that our careless activities may adversely affect not only complex creatures like whales and dolphins but even “simple” animals like oysters.

This article was taken from Answers magazine, March–April, 2018, pg 32.