Sound production and mechanism in the cryptic cusk‐eel Parophidion vassali

• Published in: Journal of anatomy Vol. 241; no. 3; pp. 581 - 600
• Main Authors: Eric, Parmentier, Gaëlle, Stainier, Renaud, Boistel, Fine, Michael L., Loïc, Kéver, Lucia, Di Iorio, Marta, Bolgan
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2022; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: acoustic; Air Sacs - anatomy & histology; Air Sacs - physiology; Anatomy; Animals; Cell Biology; cusk-eel; Developmental Biology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Eels; Female; Fishes - anatomy & histology; gonads; Histology; Life sciences; Male; Males; Molecular Biology; Muscles; Muscles - physiology; ophidiiform; Original; Original Paper; Parophidion vassali; Phenotypes; Sciences du vivant; sonic muscles; Sound; Sound production; Swim bladder; Vocalization, Animal; Zoologie; Zoology; acoustic; gonads; ophidiiform; sonic muscles; cusk-eel
• ISSN: 0021-8782; 1469-7580; 1469-7580
• DOI: 10.1111/joa.13691

This study investigates the sounds and the anatomy of the sound‐producing organ in the male and female sand‐dwelling cusk‐eel Parophidion vassali. Although both sexes have similar external phenotype, they can be distinguished by their sonic apparatus and sounds. As in many Ophioidei, Parophidion vassali presents a panel of highly derived characters. Fish possess three pairs of sonic muscles, and males have mineralized swimbladder caps on which inserts the ventral sonic muscle, a neural arch that pivots, a stretchable swimbladder fenestra, an osseous swimbladder plate and a rounded pressure‐release membrane in the caudal swimbladder. Females, however, do not possess anterior swimbladder caps, a swimbladder fenestra and the caudal rounded membrane. Males possess the unusual ability to produce sounds starting with a set of low amplitude pulses followed by a second set with higher amplitudes clearly dividing each sound unit into two parts. Females do not vary their sound amplitude in this way: they produce shorter sounds and pulse periods but with a higher peak frequency. Morphology and sound features support the sound‐producing mechanism is based on a rebound system (i.e. quick backward snap of the anterior swimbladder). Based on features of the sounds from tank recordings, we have putatively identified the sound of male Parophidion vassali at sea. As these species are ecologically cryptic, we hope this work will allow assessment and clarify the distribution of their populations. This study investigates the sounds and the anatomy of the sound‐producing organ in the dwelling cusk‐eel. Males produce sounds starting with a set of low amplitude pulses followed by a second set with higher amplitudes clearly dividing each sound unit into two parts. Females produce shorter sounds and pulse periods but with a higher peak frequency. Differences in sounds correspond to differences in sound‐producing mechanisms.