Full Description

"The oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau, produces a boatwhistle advertisement call using one of the fastest muscles known in vertebrates."

"Males produce these calls in choruses for hours at a time at rates that can exceed 10 calls/min, although they spend large periods in silence or producing one to several calls per minute (Fine et al. 1977). Boatwhistles produced by fish in York River, Virginia, are tonal sounds with a fundamental frequency commonly around 200 Hz and a duration averaging 300 ms (Fine 1978)."

Observation Environment Quotes

"Toadfish were caught in crab pots in York River, Virginia, in early fall 1998 and maintained in the laboratory in 20‰ running seawater and under a long day (14 h light : 10 h dark). Water temperature was kept at approximately 21°C. Toadfish were fed with shrimp twice a week."

Behaviour Description Quotes

"The oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau, produces a boatwhistle advertisement call using one of the fastest muscles known in vertebrates. "

"Sound production and behaviour were monitored during electrical stimulation."

Sound Name Quotes

"The oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau, produces a boatwhistle advertisement call using one of the fastest muscles known in vertebrates. "

"Males produce these calls in choruses for hours at a time at rates that can exceed 10 calls/min, although they spend large periods in silence or producing one to several calls per minute (Fine et al. 1977). Boatwhistles produced by fish in York River, Virginia, are tonal sounds with a fundamental frequency commonly around 200 Hz and a duration averaging 300 ms (Fine 1978)."