THE ACOUSTICAL BEHAVIOR OF SOME FISHES IN THE BIMINI AREA

Abstract

Sound production by 13 species in this area of the Great Bahama Bank is described; the sounds of 12 are characterized and illustrated with vibragrams from recordings; mechanisms of sound production are discussed; and behavior accompanied by sound production is stipulated. The 13 species are among 40 species in 29 families studied. Holocentrus ascensionis and Epinephalus striatus are the predominant sound producers among fishes of the Bimini area; their sound-production is correlated with their distribution. These 2 species, together with Pomacanthus arcuatus, were the only fish sound sources identified by sight during extensive listening at sea. It is suggested that tooth noise of various feeding reef fishes contributes to the sound band generally attributed to snapping shrimp.