Grunting fish yield vocal clues

[n2doc]

Grunting fish have helped scientists to date the origins of vocal sounds to about 400 million years ago.

Toadfish and midshipman fish use a variety of different sounds to attract mates and scare off rivals.

Now US researchers have found that the area of a fish's brain that drives vocalisation is extremely primitive.

Writing in the journal Science, they say it suggests that the ability to communicate through sound emerged very early in the evolution of vertebrates.

Andrew Bass from Cornell University, who is the lead author of the paper, said: "You'll hear frogs calling, birds singing and we hear this all the time - we are familiar with this.
"But I think it's fair to say that most people are unaware of the fact that many fish use sound for social communication."

more:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7510443.stm

[MuseRider]

1. LOL

They can be quite loud too. I have heard what they called Toadfish several times while night diving in the Caribbean. They are difficult to see but easy to hear.

Interesting. Thanks.

[skooooo]

2. Omg never heard of these things before!

Now we have flying and grunting fish!!!!

Who says that evolution is "just a theory?"

[MuseRider]

3. Don't foget Snapping Shrimp!

I had one come out of a hole and grab a pencil I was using to mark a species chart and take it down into it's hole.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONQlTMUYCW4

[Indenturedebtor]

4. Lol I was attacked by a trigger fish in Fiji. Damn thing took two chunks of flesh

before I even knew what was happening. It charged at my face and backed away, did this a few times. I was thinking "oh the little feller is curious" lol stupid me. As I swam away from it it bit the hell out of me. Ruined my snorkling day as there were sharks in the water hehe.

Nasty little things.

[MuseRider]

5. Remoras.

I was attacked by two Ramoras. They would not leave me alone, my kids were trying to get them to stop and it was not until I kicked them hard with my fins did they leave. Each about 2 feet long. Tore up the back of my hands trying to attach. Strangest darn thing. BIG shark was seen just across the coral head, they must have come from it.

I love trigger fish. That is truly an odd story! "the little feller is curious" lol, I have learned not to think that when under the water. Lots of cute "little fellers" that carry a big whollop! I think those triggers can carry a poison.....guess not but check out the link, there is a picture of a bite from one of them and a discussion on their behavior. I guess I have been lucky not to have ever been there when they were aggressive. Ya learn something every day.

Fiji. Man would I ever love to dive the reefs in Fiji. Never going to make it though. Still love the pictures. :)

Edit: Oops, forgot the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triggerfish

[Indenturedebtor]

7. Oh crap

I didn't know that Remoras tried to attach to people like that. Bleh!

The one I got attacked by was a picasso

The Fijians laughed at me bleeding all over the place "Hahaha you got beet by a trigga feesh. It's because dey like yor white skeen." That bite in the picture is exactly what mine looked like hehe. Took awhile to heal but no poison thankfully :D

Yeah the reefs in Fiji are amazing. We didn't have/get a dive cert cause we were travelling a long time on the cheap, but the snorkeling is fantastic.

[MuseRider]

8. I love to snorkel.

Diving is my thing though, I have never been happier than when I am floating above the reef watching the little things close up.

Yea, they do get amused when things like that happen, there you are bleeding and there they are giggling. They were stunned by my remora story. My husband and kids saw it. It was just the 4 of us and a dive guide and she came back when she noticed we were not in sight and just floated there and watched! I don't think it is common. I could not figure out why my hands kept hurting, they were folded under my chest. All of a sudden there were two remoras up in my face banging against my mask. It was just too freaky. I have seen a lot of things but that one beat it all. There are so many things we do not know and the way things are going we never will.

Fiji, man.

[ladjf]

6. Drumfish in fresh water rivers of the South Eastern U.S. have a

very audible croaking sound. Catfish make a vocal sound when taken out of the water.