Acoustic communication in Pomatoschistus pictus (Malm, 1965): courtship behaviour and sound production mechanism

Abstract

Fish acoustic signals play a major role during agonistic and reproductive interactions. Among the sound-generating fish, Gobiidae, the largest fish family with more than 1900 species, is one of the most studied families with sound production being documented in 23 species. This study aimed to work on the sound producing mechanism and on the function of sounds in the painted goby Pomatoschistus pictus. A combination of morphological and experimental analyses dealing with high-speed videos supported sounds are produced during lateral head movements involving the alternate contractions of (levator pectoralis) muscles. It remains additional data are required to fully understand the mechanism. The painted goby is able to produce two distinct sounds called drums and thumps. Synchronized sound with video recordings were performed and demonstrated that thumps were mainly produced when the female was outside the nest meaning they serve to attract females inside the nest. Drums were mainly produced when the female was inside the nest and could be related to courtship and sexual selection. Males that succeed to mate produced more drums which are longer with more pulses and with shorter pulse rates than unsuccessful males. It implies drumming sounds have a function in mate choice and that females could choose males based on number of emitted drums, drum duration and pulse rate.