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Sharks Make Clicking Sounds Discovered

Reading Test for IELTS Reading (Intermediate LEvel)

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11 views4 pages

Sharks Make Clicking Sounds Discovered

Reading Test for IELTS Reading (Intermediate LEvel)

Uploaded by

badiiyolam
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Strange clicking shows sharks aren’t silent

after all

At least one shark species has a bark to go along with its


bite. It can make clicking noises, a first among an animal
group once thought to be totally silent.
During her doctoral research at the University of Auckland
in New Zealand, Carolin Nieder, now at Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, was studying
sharks’ hearing. When handling the sharks, she noticed one
species – a houndshark called the rig (Mustelus lenticulatus)
– appeared to make metallic clicking sounds. She initially
ignored it because sharks were not supposed to make sounds.
The clicking kept happening. While many fish emit sounds
by scraping objects or vibrating their muscles, no shark
sounds had been formally described. To confirm the rig’s
noisiness, Nieder and her colleagues brought ten juvenile rigs
caught off New Zealand’s North Island into the lab and placed
them in tanks with sound-recording instruments. The team
gently handled the sharks and found that all of them made a
clicking noise in response.
The rig appears to be the first shark known to produce
sounds that aren’t associated with other actions, such as
feeding or bumping into something.
The researchers think the sharks may be producing the
sounds by snapping their jaws together. The rig has flattened
teeth, which might create a sharp sound upon impact.
Nieder points out that the rig is a small shark and potential
prey for larger animals, so it is possible the clicking has a role
in defence when the animal is bitten or grasped.
It could be to disorient the predator. It is also possible the
clicking has a role in hunting, such as scaring or disorienting
the sharks’ crustacean prey.
Questions 1-7
Do the following statements agree with the information
given in the passage? Write:

TRUE - if the statement agrees with the information.


FALSE - if the statement contradicts the information.
NOT GIVEN - if there is no information on this.

1. The clicking sound produced by houndsharks has been


known for several decades.

2. Carolin Nieder was initially unsure if the clicking sounds


were coming from the shark.

3. The rig is the only shark species ever recorded making


sound.

4. The sharks’ clicking noises are linked to their jaw


structure.

5. The clicking sound may help the rig defend itself from
predators.

6. All fish species use sound to communicate underwater.

7. The clicking may serve more than one purpose for the
rig shark.
Questions 8-13
Complete the sentences below.
Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for
each answer.

8. Carolin Nieder was studying __________ as part of her


doctoral research.

9. Ten juvenile sharks were placed in __________ with


recording equipment.

10. The clicking noise might come from the shark


snapping its __________ together.

11. The rig has __________ teeth, which might make


sharp sounds.

12. The rig is small and could be considered __________


for larger animals.

13. The clicking sound might also confuse the rig’s


__________ prey.

Common questions

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The clicking sound produced by the rig shark might be significant in its interactions with predators as it could serve to disorient the predator when the shark is bitten or grasped. This defensive mechanism could provide the rig with a crucial advantage in avoiding predation .

Further research into the sound capabilities of rig sharks could influence conservation strategies by providing insights into their behaviors and ecological needs. Understanding sound production might help identify critical habitats, inform protective measures, and enhance public awareness of the ecological importance of preserving shark populations .

The rig shark’s small size potentially influences its behavioral adaptations by necessitating unique defense mechanisms, such as sound production. As a potential prey item for larger predators, the clicking sound serves as a defensive mechanism that could disorient attackers and enhance its chances of survival .

Nieder's findings imply that shark communication may be more complex than previously thought, involving not only visual and olfactory signals but also auditory components. This expands the scope of marine biology research by highlighting a need to reconsider the communication strategies and ecological roles of various shark species .

The structure of the rig shark's teeth contributes to its ability to create sound due to their flattened shape. When the shark snaps its jaws, the impact of these flattened teeth might produce a sharp, metallic clicking noise, suggesting a mechanical process of sound production .

Carolin Nieder's research unveiled the novel discovery that the houndshark, specifically the rig shark (Mustelus lenticulatus), can produce clicking noises. This challenges the prior assumption that sharks are completely silent. The clicking is not associated with typical actions like feeding or bumping into objects, suggesting a unique sound production method possibly involving jaw snapping .

Beyond predator defense, the clicking sound might benefit the rig shark by playing a role in hunting. It could scare or disorient its primary prey, which includes crustaceans, thereby aiding in successful capture. This dual-purpose sound highlights the adaptive nature of the rig shark in its ecosystem .

Researchers ensured the accuracy of their findings by placing the sharks in a controlled environment with sound-recording instruments. They handled the sharks gently and consistently noted the occurrence of clicking sounds, thereby confirming the rig's ability to produce noise independently of other activities .

The discovery of the rig shark's clicking sound challenges the longstanding misconception that all sharks are silent. This finding suggests that some shark species can indeed produce sounds independent of typical actions like feeding or bumping, thereby expanding our understanding of shark communication and behavior .

Researchers at the University of Auckland studied sound production in rig sharks by capturing ten juvenile rigs and placing them in tanks equipped with sound-recording instruments. They handled the sharks gently and consistently recorded clicking noises in response, confirming that the sharks indeed produce sounds .

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