One of world’s tiniest fish found to produce sound as loud as a gunshot, scientists say

Scientists have made a remarkable discovery in the animal kingdom, finding that one of the world’s smallest fish is capable of producing sounds as loud as a gunshot.

According to a study published in the PNAS journal, the male Danionella cerebrum, measuring a mere 12mm in length and found in the streams of Myanmar, can generate sounds that exceed 140 decibels.

Researchers from Charité University in Berlin conducted the study, aiming to unravel the mystery behind the fish’s extraordinary sound production.

While most fish create sounds through vibrations of their swim bladder, the Danionella cerebrum’s mechanism proved to be unique and baffling.

The study revealed that the fish employs a specialized system involving a drumming cartilage, a unique rib, and fatigue-resistant muscles.

This system enables the fish to accelerate the drumming cartilage with exceptional force, resulting in rapid and loud pulses akin to the sound of a gunshot.