Development of sound production in Danionella cerebrum.
J Exp Biol
; 227(16)2024 Aug 15.
Article
de En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39189063
ABSTRACT
Acoustic signalling, integral to intraspecific communication and reproductive behaviour, undergoes notable changes during an animal's ontogenetic development. The onset and progression of this maturation in fish remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the ontogeny of acoustic communication in the miniature teleost Danionella cerebrum, one of the smallest known vertebrates and an emerging model organism. Its adult males produce audible clicks that appear in sequences with a repetition rate of â¼60 or â¼120â
Hz, caused by consecutive unilateral or alternating bilateral compressions of the swim bladder. To investigate the maturation of this ability, we performed long-term sound recordings and morphological studies of the sound production apparatus in D. cerebrum throughout its ontogenetic development. We found that fish start producing clicks during the second month of their lives and continually increase their abundance and structured repetition over the course of the following 1 to 2 months. The sound production machinery, including specialised bone and cartilage structures, starts to form in males after approximately 4 weeks and prior to reaching sexual maturity. Although clicks increase in amplitude as animals mature, click repetition rates of 60 and 120â
Hz are stable throughout development. This suggests fully mature pattern generation in juvenile males, yet a continued development of the drumming apparatus capable of creating louder sounds.
Mots clés
Texte intégral:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Base de données:
MEDLINE
Sujet principal:
Vocalisation animale
Limites:
Animals
Langue:
En
Journal:
J Exp Biol
/
J. exp. biol
/
Journal of experimental biology
Année:
2024
Type de document:
Article
Pays d'affiliation:
Allemagne
Pays de publication:
Royaume-Uni