Sharks are often seen as silent and deadly predators. However, a recent study shows that one species, the rig shark, might actually talk — or at least make sounds that resemble conversation. The findings reveal that rig sharks produce clicking noises by snapping their teeth together.
Researchers from New Zealand recorded these sounds for the first time, marking a significant discovery in how sharks might communicate. The clicks created by the rig shark (Mustelus lenticulatus) are sharp and brief, lasting only about 48 milliseconds. To put that in perspective, that’s faster than a blink. Some clicks can even be as loud as 156 decibels, which is similar to jet noise.
Dr. Carolin Nieder, the lead investigator and now a postdoctoral fellow in oceanography, stumbled upon these sounds during her doctoral research at the University of Auckland. While training 10 juvenile rig sharks, she heard a clicking sound and followed up on it, leading to this exciting discovery published in the Royal Society Open Science.
Neil Hammerschlag, president of Atlantic Shark Expeditions, commented on the study, emphasizing that the communication methods of sharks have been a long-standing mystery. He noted that while sharks typically rely on body language and chemical signals, sound might play a significant role in their communication, as this research suggests.
The rig shark, which mainly lives in shallow waters along the coast of New Zealand, usually spends its time near the ocean floor. They lack the swim bladders that many other fish use to help produce sounds, making this ability surprising. Researchers studied these sharks in controlled laboratory tanks, carefully recording their sounds with underwater microphones. The data showed that most clicking occurred when sharks were gently held or transferred between tanks, hinting that these might be distress calls.
Interestingly, around 70% of the clicks happened when the sharks swayed side to side slowly, while 25% occurred during more explosive movements. Only 5% happened when the sharks stayed still. This suggests that the clicking might be a deliberate behavior rather than just a side effect of being handled.
Researchers are now left with many questions. Why do rig sharks make these sounds? Could they signal distress? Or might they serve to ward off predators or communicate with other sharks? Most of the clicks were beyond the hearing range of rig sharks, which can only detect sounds up to about 800 hertz. This raises further questions about how they perceive their environment.
With over 500 shark species in the ocean, there’s a possibility that other sharks might have similar sound-producing abilities. Dr. Nieder believes this research could encourage further exploration of shark communication and behavior, possibly revealing more about their lives and ecosystems.
As we learn more about how these amazing creatures communicate, this study breaks down previous assumptions about tiger sharks’ silence, opening new pathways for future research in marine biology. Exploring the underwater world is essential, as understanding shark communication might lead to essential insights into their ecological roles.
For those interested in the science behind shark communication, read more in the full study published in the Royal Society Open Science.
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