The morphology of sonic system and sound characteristics of the Marbled rockfish Sebasticus marmoratus

Abstract:

Many fish are capable of producing sounds for communication. Sound characteristics and sound production system of marbled rockfish Sebasticus marmoratus were investigated. The sound production system consists of swimbladder and swimbladder muscles. The muscles originate on the base of the pterotic bones of skull, pass the I-VII ribs, then attach on the posterior portion of the swimbladder dorsolaterally. During dyadic agonistic encounters, the fish produce the sounds consist of a series of individual pulses with average duration of 32.6±2.6 ms, average interpulse intervals of 51.8±81.4ms, and dominant frequency of 68-175 Hz from fishes about 13cm in body length. The dominant frequency is consistent with the reciprocal of second energy cycle of pulse. The results suggested that the sound was produced by the contracting and relaxation of swimbladder muscles.