MrBishop
Well-Known Member
Thanks to Camelyn for this loverly bit of scientific humour
Scientists say mystery underwater sound is farting fish
Biologists baffled by a mysterious, underwater sound think it may be
herrings farting.
No fish had previously been known to emit sound in such a way, reports
the
New Scientist.
But a team from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver say the
noise matches bubbles coming out of a herring's anus.
"It sounds just like a high-pitched raspberry," says Ben Wilson of the
university.
Mr Wilson and his colleagues cannot be sure why herring make this
sound, but
initial research suggests that it might be a means of communication.
Wilson points that, unlike a human fart, the sounds are probably not
caused
by digestive gases because the number of sounds does not change when
the
fish are fed.
The researchers also tested whether the fish were farting from fear,
perhaps
to sound an alarm. But when they exposed fish to a shark scent, there
was
again no change in the number of farts.
Finally, three observations persuaded the researchers that the farts
were
most likely produced for communication.
Firstly, the number of farts per fish increased when more fish were
added to
the tank. Secondly, herrings are only noisy after dark, suggesting they
might be a way of finding each other in the dark. And finally, most
other
fish cannot hear the noises.
Scientists say mystery underwater sound is farting fish
Biologists baffled by a mysterious, underwater sound think it may be
herrings farting.
No fish had previously been known to emit sound in such a way, reports
the
New Scientist.
But a team from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver say the
noise matches bubbles coming out of a herring's anus.
"It sounds just like a high-pitched raspberry," says Ben Wilson of the
university.
Mr Wilson and his colleagues cannot be sure why herring make this
sound, but
initial research suggests that it might be a means of communication.
Wilson points that, unlike a human fart, the sounds are probably not
caused
by digestive gases because the number of sounds does not change when
the
fish are fed.
The researchers also tested whether the fish were farting from fear,
perhaps
to sound an alarm. But when they exposed fish to a shark scent, there
was
again no change in the number of farts.
Finally, three observations persuaded the researchers that the farts
were
most likely produced for communication.
Firstly, the number of farts per fish increased when more fish were
added to
the tank. Secondly, herrings are only noisy after dark, suggesting they
might be a way of finding each other in the dark. And finally, most
other
fish cannot hear the noises.
She already posted it, Marc....I can't believe they're surprised...anyone with a home aquarium knows that fish fart.