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With Just 12 Mm, Danionella Cerebrum Uses Special Muscles and Cartilage to Produce Noises Over 140 Decibels, Defying Expectations About Aquatic Animals.
A small translucent fish, about the size of a human nail, has caught the attention of the scientific community for its unusual ability to produce extremely loud sounds. Danionella cerebrum, which measures only 12 millimeters, can generate noises exceeding 140 decibels, a level comparable to the sound experienced by a person 100 meters away from a passenger jet taking off.
Discovery and Characteristics
Although Danionella cerebrum was identified in the 1980s, the species was only officially recognized in 2021.
The delay occurred due to its great similarity to Danionella translucida. The differences between the two fishes are so subtle that only microscopic examinations allowed for the distinction.
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Recently, researchers discovered an even more impressive feature in this tiny animal: its extraordinary sound-producing ability.
The Secret of Powerful Sound
According to Dr. Ralf Britz, an ichthyologist at the Senckenberg Natural History Collections, the fish is capable of producing extremely loud sounds at a very short distance, between 10 and 12 millimeters. The technique used is fascinating. Danionella cerebrum combines the movement of sonic muscles with a special cartilage to generate the noise.
High-speed recordings showed that a rib close to the swim bladder is propelled by a fatigue-resistant muscle.
This structure accelerates the thumping cartilage with a force of over 2,000 times Earth’s gravity, launching it against the bladder and producing rapid and strong pulses.
These pulses combine in sequences formed by alternating muscle contractions, creating the species’ characteristic sound. The greater stiffness of the rib in males explains why females cannot produce sounds as intense.
Function of Sound Remains a Mystery
Despite advances in observations, the exact function of these sounds has not yet been determined by scientists.
One hypothesis is that the noise helps in navigation in murky waters. Another possibility is that the sound serves as an aggressive tool, used by males to fend off rivals during mating season.
While answers are yet to come, Danionella cerebrum has already secured its place among the loudest animals on the planet, defying what was expected of such a small and seemingly fragile creature.
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