Scientists Discover World’s Tiniest Fish that Produces Sound as Loud as Gunshot

Scientists have recently discovered that one of the tiniest fish in the world, the male Danionella cerebrum, found in the streams of Myanmar, has the astonishing ability to produce sounds as loud as a gunshot.

Measuring a mere 12mm in length, this minuscule fish possesses an astounding capacity for generating sounds that exceed 140 decibels, equivalent to the intensity of an ambulance siren or jackhammer.

In a study published in the PNAS journal, researchers at Charité University in Berlin unveiled the remarkable mechanism behind the sound production of this diminutive aquatic creature. While the conventional method of sound production in fishes involves the vibration of their swim bladder, driven by rhythmic contractions of specialized muscles, the unique pulses generated by the male Danionella cerebrum posed a mystery to scientists, as it did not align with the traditional swim bladder-related muscle mechanisms.

Upon close examination, the team of scientists uncovered that the male Danionella cerebrum possesses a distinctive sound production system, which encompasses a drumming cartilage, specialized rib, and fatigue-resistant muscle. This intricate system enables the fish to accelerate the drumming cartilage with extreme forces, resulting in the generation of rapid, loud pulses.

The use of high-speed video recordings allowed the researchers to delve into the intricate mechanism of sound production in this tiny fish. It was observed that a rib positioned adjacent to the swim bladder is moved by a specialized muscle into a piece of cartilage. Subsequently, as the rib is released, it strikes the swim bladder, leading to the production of the distinct drumming sound. Notably, the rib in males is significantly harder than in females, thereby explaining why female Danionella cerebrum do not exhibit the same ability to produce sounds.

While the reason behind the male Danionella cerebrum’s capacity for producing such loud sounds remains unknown, scientists have proposed several hypotheses. These include the possibility that the sound aids in navigating murky waters or serves as an aggressive tactic used by males to deter competition.

The findings of this study not only shed light on the extraordinary adaptation of the male Danionella cerebrum but also contribute to expanding our understanding of animal motion and the remarkable diversity of propulsion mechanisms across different species. Moreover, these insights provide valuable contributions to the fields of evolutionary biology and biomechanics, offering a deeper comprehension of the intricate adaptations and behaviors exhibited by various organisms in their natural habitats.