The in-air auditory thresholds of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra, L. 1758) as determined by auditory brainstem responses

Abstract As of yet there is no literature record of the hearing range of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra, L. 1758), a key species for natural conservation efforts in Europe. We recorded in-air pure tone hearing thresholds of anaesthetized otters using auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and report the results of the Eurasian otter. The recorded potentials showed the typical mammalian auditory brainstem response consisting of 5 distinct positive peaks during the first 10 ms after stimulus onset. At 80 dB SPL the hearing ranged from around 200 Hz to 32 kHz, with lowest thresholds around 4 kHz.