Full Description

"During the late spring and summer, nesting or type I male plainfin midshipman attract females by producing a multiharmonic advertisement call known as a “hum.” Midshipman fish also produce two other vocalizations known as “grunts” and “growls” used in agonistic social interactions. As in other batrachoidid fishes, vocal signals are produced by the contraction of the sonic muscles attached to the swim bladder. The hum contains a fundamental frequency (80–102 Hz; varies with temperature) with multiple harmonics that range up to 1 kHz (Bass et al. 1999)."

"The plainfin midshipman fish, Porichthys notatus, is a nocturnal marine teleost that uses social acoustic signals for communication during the breeding season. Nesting type I males produce multiharmonic advertisement calls by contracting their swim bladder sonic muscles to attract females for courtship and spawning while subsequently attracting cuckholding type II males."

"Plainfin midshipman fish are known to produce three types of vocalizations that include hums, growls, and grunts. These vocalizations are produced during social and reproductive behaviors and are generated by the contraction of the sonic muscles attached to the swim bladder. During the breeding season, type I males produce the multiharmonic hum or advertisement call to attract females for spawning. The hum contains a fundamental frequency that ranges from 80 to 102 Hz with harmonics that can extend up to 1000 Hz (Bass, Bodnar, & Marchaterre, 2003; Brantley & Bass, 1994; Ibara, Penny, Ebeling, van Dykhuizen, & Cailliet, 1983). Growls and grunt trains, which are agonistic calls also produced by type I males, are broadband signals that contain frequency information up to 800 Hz (Bass et al., 1999; Maruska & Sisneros, 2015)."

"Although females and type II males are capable of producing grunts, only type I nesting males can produce sustained grunt trains and long duration growls and hums. The hum or advertisement call can be produced by type I males for over an hour in duration and at relatively high sound levels (Bass et al., 1999). The sound levels of type I male hums have been recorded to be as high as 153–161 dB (re 1 uPa) at or near the entrance of the nests from captive calling males maintained in artificial nests at the Friday Harbor Laboratories on San Juan Island, WA (personal observations, JAS)."

Observation Environment Quotes

"The sound levels of type I male hums have been recorded to be as high as 153–161 dB (re 1 lPa) at or near the entrance of the nests from captive calling males maintained in artificial nests at the Friday Harbor Laboratories on San Juan Island, WA (personal observations, JAS)."

Behaviour Description Quotes

"During the late spring and summer, nesting or type I male plainfin midshipman attract females by producing a multiharmonic advertisement call known as a “hum.” Midshipman fish also produce two other vocalizations known as “grunts” and “growls” used in agonistic social interactions. As in other batrachoidid fishes, vocal signals are produced by the contraction of the sonic muscles attached to the swim bladder. The hum contains a fundamental frequency (80–102 Hz; varies with temperature) with multiple harmonics that range up to 1 kHz (Bass et al. 1999)."

Sound Name Quotes

"During the late spring and summer, nesting or type I male plainfin midshipman attract females by producing a multiharmonic advertisement call known as a “hum.” Midshipman fish also produce two other vocalizations known as “grunts” and “growls” used in agonistic social interactions. As in other batrachoidid fishes, vocal signals are produced by the contraction of the sonic muscles attached to the swim bladder. The hum contains a fundamental frequency (80–102 Hz; varies with temperature) with multiple harmonics that range up to 1 kHz (Bass et al. 1999)."