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Electrophysiological observations on hearing and sound production in the fish, Porichthys notatus

1967; Wiley; Volume: 165; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/jez.1401650305

1097-010X

Melvin J. Cohen, Howard E. Winn,

Ichthyology and Marine Biology

Abstract Males of the northern midshipman, Porichthys notatus emit sounds that can be characterized as irregular grunts, trains of regularly spaced grunts and buzzes. The grunts contain their maximum amplitude in a band from 85‐600 cps with a possible fundamental just below 85 cps. The buzzes contain frequencies from 85 cps to 1 kc. Some buzzes have a well defined fundamental at approximately 85 cps. In others, the fundamental varies between 150 and 250 cps. Microphonics were recorded from the sacculus and appear to originate primarily from the posterior region of the saccular macula. Two microphonic potentials are produced for each cycle of sound. A hearing frequency curve based on a 20 microvolt microphonic response indicates that the ear can detect sounds from 30 to at least 210 cps. There is a low threshold at 30 and at 150 cps. Electromyograms from the pair of muscles attached to the air bladder indicate that they contract simultaneously at frequencies from 93‐227 per second during sound production. Each contraction is associated with a pulse of sound. The variety of sounds produced in any given behavioral situation indicates that there is no clear association between a given type of activity and the sound produced. The low threshold of the ear at 150 cps corresponds to a fundamental frequency commonly found in the sounds produced by the fish. This indicates that the fish could use these sounds for communication between individuals.