Herrings converse via flatulence, researchers find

Agence France-Presse (AFP) ^ | 11-11-03

[Oldeconomybuyer]

PARIS, Nov 11 (AFP) - Herrings appear to be sociable fish who like to communicate among themselves and use their natural flatulence to do so, a team of British and Canadian researchers has reported.

A report in the British review Biology Letters describes how the researchers studied the sounds produced by two kinds of captive, wild-caught herring.

"At night herring squeeze bubbles out of their swimbladders through an anal pore, producing sounds not unlike people blowing raspberries," the team of three recounts.

The Pacific species (Clupea pallasii) were found to emit distinctive bursts of pulses, known as fast repetitive tick (FRT) sounds, mostly at night, lasting between 0.6 seconds and 7.6 seconds in the 1.7 to 22 kilohertz bands.

"Digested gas and gulped air transfer to the swim bladder ... do not appear to be responsible for FRT sound generation," the report said.

It was the same story with Clupea pallasii's Atlantic cousin, Clupea harengus.

"Atlantic herring also produce FRT sounds and video analysis showed an association with bubble expulsion from the anal duct region (i.e. from the gut or swim bladder," the researchers found.

"The functions of these sounds are unknown but as the per capita rates of sound production by fish at higher densities were greater, social mediation appears likely.

"These sounds may have consequences for our understanding of herring behaviour and the effects of noise pollution."

[discipler]

Leave it to the French to find this out. My gosh, we have a war going on here. The world is in upheaval and the French are studying the herrings' flatulence patterns.
Is there no end to their folly?

[RosieCotton]

I have no idea why you pinged me to this thread.

Oh...no reason. No reason at all. < innocent smile >

[azhenfud]

"Atlantic herring also produce FRT sounds..."

I thought I'd see what Ted Kennedy had to say to his Democrat collegues.

[Rifleman]

Ahhh. Yeah, well I once knew a fellow who could fart a tune. Rugby player.

[San Jacinto]

Herrings talk out their ass? They must be democrats.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Thus, one might surmise that all DU members are also herrings...

I thought someone would propse that this applies to Senators -- especially the DUM DEMS on the Select Intelligence Committee.

[exile]

I'll never be able to watch "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" again.

[RippleFire]

bump

[mlmr]

Herrings converse via flatulence, researchers find


So does my brother-in-law and you don't need a research study either!

[Gorzaloon]

Herrings appear to be sociable fish who like to communicate among themselves and use their natural flatulence to do so, ...

What's so unique about that Frat Boys have been doing that for years.

Yeahbut...Do the fish IGNITE them?

[mlmr]

If you get a Merck Manual, not the online version, there is a funny entry on the topic of FLATUS.

[ijcr]

To the shoal,

Three bursts, turn right. Four bubbles, turn left. Baked beans, break dance.

[John H K]

I have little doubt a giant school of herring will now make it into Finding Nemo 2...

And create the greatest scene in animation history...

[VadeRetro]

Fast Accoustic Repetitive Tick ping!

Piltie, after some of the stuff you've pinged me on, this one's for you.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

Just when i thought fish could'nt smell any worse!

[Not now, Not ever!]

I'll never be able to watch "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" again.

Nonsense!! don't get so upset about it.

Think of it as a means of propulsion, not a very effective one, but.....................

[MineralMan]

New Herring Lure:

[B-Chan]

Ah, they're talking out of their asses again.

[F.J. Mitchell]

"Flatulence" the language of democrats and herrings.

[PoorMuttly]

Pinging Mr. Eel...Pinging Mr. Eel....

..PLEASE don't tell me I have to communicate in another way...!!!