Scientists have found out which type of fish is capable of producing a sound louder than a gunshot

One of the world’s smallest fish, only 12 millimeters in size, can produce a sound that exceeds 140 decibels.

According to a study published in the journal PNAS, it is about a male species of Danionella cerebrum, writes The Guardian.

Using high-speed video recordings, scientists from Charité University in Berlin found that a species of fish that has the smallest brain among all vertebrates on earth has a unique sound-making system.

According to scientists, tympanic cartilage, ribs and fish muscles are involved in this process.

As a result of the vibrations of the swim bladder, which is filled with gas and helps them stay afloat, rhythmic oscillations occur, which lead to the contraction of the “drum” muscles and the formation of sound impulses.

Scientists explain that the rib, which lies next to the swim bladder, is moved by a special muscle in the cartilage.

When the rib is released, it hits the swim bladder and produces a tympanic sound. Due to the fact that males have a much harder rib than females, only they are able to make loud sounds.

“Understanding this extraordinary adaptation expands knowledge of animal locomotion and highlights the extraordinary diversity of locomotion mechanisms across species. It contributes to our broader understanding of evolutionary biology and biomechanics“, the authors of the study report.

Scientists have suggested that the creation of loud pulses may help males navigate in murky water or scare off competitors.

Earlier we talked about whether a fish can drown.