Sitting in a boat on a still day, the ocean seems gentle, calm and most of all silent. Even the song of a humpback whale, a sound that when produced by an individual off the coast of Newfoundland can be heard by another a couple of thousand miles away in Bermuda, goes unnoticed above the waves. And yes, most marine animals, be they jellyfish, clams or sharks, make no sounds at all.

But there are some fish whose vocal abilities, when heard underwater, rival a number of songbirds, if not in tune at least in volume. Fish that produce sound are called "soniferous", and they encompass a surprisingly large minority of species. In fact there is one family of fish that are collectively known as "Drums", named for the pounding noise they make to attract mates or establish territories.



Posted by: Kelly    Source