Phonotaxis – Explained

Phonotaxis is a behaviour exhibited by certain organisms in response to sound stimuli. It refers to their capacity to detect and move towards or away from a specific sound or a signal.

There are two types of phonotaxis: 

• Positive phonotaxis: Its purpose is attraction, and it usually happens when the females of a particular species (crickets, moths, frogs etc.) are attracted to the sounds made by the males, for mating purposes. 
• Negative phonotaxis: Serves to repel or warn, it is a survival mechanism that helps organisms avoid potentially dangerous situations or stimuli in their environment. E.g., If a particular frequency or pattern of sound is associated with a predator, prey animals might exhibit negative phonotaxis by moving away from the source of the sound to seek safety.