Scientists record fish singing at dawn and dusk 'like birds'

Fish have been recorded welcoming in dawn and dusk by singing in the same way as birds, a study has found.

Researchers at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, spent 18 months monitoring vocal fish in waters off the coast of Western Australia.

They found that although most fish tend to be soloists, repeating the same call, their sounds often overlap with those of other fish forming a chorus.

The marine biologists identified seven different choruses all of which occurred at dawn and dust, according to the New Scientist.

One chorus came from the Black Jewfish which makes what has been described as a “foghorn call”.

Another call, which sounds like grunting or an electric buzzer, comes from a fish named Terapontid.

A third is a quieter sound which has been described as a “ba-ba-ba” call which comes from the Batfish.

Robert McCauley, who led the research team, told New Scientist: “I’ve been listening to fish squawks, burble and pops for nearly 30 years now, and they still amaze me with their variety.”

He told the publication sounds play an important role in many parts of fish’s existence such as reproduction, feeding and territorial disputes.

Adding: “We are only just beginning to appreciate the complexity involved and still have only a crude idea of what is going on in the undersea acoustic environment.”