The fish is small but can make a sound as loud as a gunshot

This sound intensity is equivalent to the sound of fireworks exploding, rifle shots, jackhammers or ambulance sirens and is even louder than the sound of an airplane taking off (130 decibels).

Danionella cerebrum fish is one of the smallest fish in the world with a maximum size of up to 12 mm for adult fish. It also has the smallest known brain among vertebrates.

Only male fish make such loud sounds, but female fish do not.

To make such a loud sound, this small fish takes advantage of the elasticity of the cartilage to impact the fish bladder - a gas-filled organ used to control the fish's buoyancy. However, the mechanism related to the bubble is not a reasonable explanation for the origin of the emitted sound, so the exact mechanism that helps create such a loud sound for this fish is still a mystery.

According to scientists, this small fish makes such loud sounds to create waves, helping the fish move better in turbid water and is a tactic used by male fish to protect their territory, or compete for prey with other individuals.

Micah Soto

Update 01 March 2024