Category: Fish
Like all eels in this genus, Japanese eels are catadromous, spending part of their life cycle in freshwater but spawning at sea. Adult eels migrate thousands of miles (without eating!) from the ocean to their freshwater spawning grounds during the breeding season. In Japan, they are called “unagi” and are a very important part of the food culture.
Undersea Conversations…
While it isn’t obvious, fish have ears, and are able to communicate to one another through sounds. They don’t have vocal chords, but instead vibrate their swim bladders, producing popping, grunting, moaning, barking, or chirping noises. While some species of fish, like the goldfish, are silent listeners, there are over 1000 species that are known to vocalize, and some, like the gurnard who are veritable chatterboxes. While we can’t have a conversation with them - at least not yet - it is theorized that they do it to attract mates, frighten away predators or competitors, to synchronize mating, call for help and warn others, or to orient themselves.
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
