WELLINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand researchers have documented sharks actively producing sounds for the first time, according to a study published on Wednesday.
The study by a team of researchers from the University of Auckland reveals that New Zealand rig sharks (Mustelus lenticulatus) emit sharp clicking noises underwater.
The researchers suggest that these clicks, which have high frequencies and short durations, are likely produced by the sharks forcefully snapping their flattened teeth together. They believe the behavior occurs in response to disturbance or distress, though further studies are needed to explore its broader biological significance, according to the study published in Royal Society Open Science.
While over 1,000 species of bony fish are known to use sound for communication, sharks and other elasmobranchs have never been observed producing sounds voluntarily. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about shark communication and opens new avenues for research into their acoustic behaviors, said lead author Carolin Nieder.
Nieder first grew curious about sharks' ability to produce sound after noticing an unexpected clicking noise during behavioral training experiments while completing her PhD at the University of Auckland in 2021. ■
