Yes, fish can also talk to one another

Modes of human communication have evolved at an amazing pace over the last few decades. Starting from phone calls and messaging apps to video calling facilities, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to options for reaching out. But can any species in the animal kingdom other than human beings talk to one another? Well, many of them can and marine animals including fish are also capable of communicating with one other. Here’s all about marine fish communication. 

Marine fish communication explained 
Fish communicate through silent mechanisms but recent studies have revealed that some species also use sound. Several species of bony fish possess sound-producing organs and types of vocalizations like the croak, purr, and popping sounds. The noises produced by them may vary according to the time of the day. Fish use various chemical signals and cues to make up their language for communication. Through these chemical cues, they tell each other where to live and eat. Signals from these chemicals have the power of governing the transfer of energy and nutrients within and among ecosystems. The chemicals released by fish can be sensed through smell or taste.   

Sound travels rapidly under the water and much farther than it does in air. Fish communicate by vibrating their swim bladders because it is a muscle they can easily contract. Some species use electrical pulses and bioluminescence like the firefly. With the help of a hydrophone scientists have detected the various sounds produced by fish and divided them into a few categories based on shared characteristics. 

• Isolated booms: These consist of two or three clear and separate pulses. 
• Coarse pulses: These include pulses recorded in a regular series. 
• Grouped pulses: These include one or two grouped pulses followed by a train of eight pulses together. 

It was also noted that the intensity of sounds varied drastically through day and night time. The calls associated with daytime are often overlapped in terms of pulse generation and frequencies. During the night fish produce more distinct sounds.  

Why do fish communication? 
The vocalisations and sounds made by fish in their natural habitat are essential for freshwater management and conservation. Some of the reasons why fish communicate are: 

Mating: Male fish produce sounds to attract receptive their female counterparts and also to convey information about species, sex identity, motivation, and location. Courtship calls are exchanged during close proximity interactions for synchronization and mating convenience.  

Signalling alarm: Fish warn one other by releasing chemicals into the water as a signal. The signals provoke a fright response in fish, including cues like freezing, dashing, and travelling closely together. Such disturbance cues are voluntarily released by fish when they feel threatened, attacked, startled, or stressed by predators.