105
derived, as was hypothesised for Mediterranean gobies (Malavasi et al. 2008 ). Tonal
sounds are observed in Gobius paganellus , Padogobius nigricans , and Proterorhinus
marmoratus , with the acoustic repertoires of P. nigricans and P. marmoratus being
strictly tonal (Ladich and Kratochvil 1989 ; Lugli et al. 1996 ). Complex sounds are
found in Gobius cruentantus , Padogobius bonelli , and Periophthalmodon
septemradiatus .
Interestingly, mudskippers (subfamily: Oxudercinae) converge with the other
two Mediterranean species, Gobius cruentatus and Padogobius bonelli , in using
complex sounds during agonistic interactions, despite the great differences in both
phylogeny and ecology. The mudskipper Periophthalmodon septemradiatus emits
sounds while out of water, which are transmitted through the wet muddy substratum
(Polgar et al. 2011 ; Fig. 1f ). In addition to complex sounds, mudskippers also produce single, distinctly spaced pulses, similar in some respects to the “thump” or
“stutter” sounds recorded for Pomatoschistus canestrinii , Pomatoschistus pictus ,
and Bathygobius curacao (Table 3 ).
Currently, the only wide comparative analysis of acoustic diversity within gobies
is provided by the work of Malavasi et al. ( 2008 ) on Mediterranean gobies belonging to two related but distinct clades: the sand gobies (genus Pomatoschistus and
Knipowitschia ) and the Gobius - Padogobius complex. The results of this study suggested that the temporal patterning of sounds, mainly duration and pulse rate, are
the acoustical properties that are most effective in discriminating between species,
whereas frequency appears to be more constrained, converging to mean values
around 100–200 Hz.
In Mediterranean gobies, duration is negatively related to body size at the interspecifi c level (Malavasi et al. 2008 ). This pattern could be applied more broadly to
the whole 22 soniferous gobies known to date. However, extending the correlative
analysis between body size and duration within the entire gobioid group of soniferous species so far investigated is a diffi cult task, partly due to the limited number of
data collected for many species. However, if the negative correlation between sound
duration and body size will be confi rmed by future investigations, this would suggest
a possible morphological constraint related to the sound production mechanism (see
Parmentier et al. 2013 , Sect. 7.2 in this chapter). A comparative look at the means
and variation of the main acoustical properties of gobioids indicates that sound duration is an extremely variable property (ranging from ~200 ms to >4 s) (Table 3 ).
3 Sound Production Mechanisms
While drumming muscles inserting on the swim bladder are involved in sound production in many fi shes (Ladich and Fine 2006 ), similar sounds are produced by darters, sculpins, and darters without an apparent involvement of the swim bladder.
Investigations into sound production mechanisms of sculpins and gobies have found
that sounds are generated from contraction of muscles originating on the skull and
inserting on the pectoral girdle (Barber and Mowbray 1956 ; Parmentier et al. 2013 ;
Convergent Aspects of Acoustic Communication in Darters, Sculpins, and Gobies
derived, as was hypothesised for Mediterranean gobies (Malavasi et al. 2008 ). Tonal
sounds are observed in Gobius paganellus , Padogobius nigricans , and Proterorhinus
marmoratus , with the acoustic repertoires of P. nigricans and P. marmoratus being
strictly tonal (Ladich and Kratochvil 1989 ; Lugli et al. 1996 ). Complex sounds are
found in Gobius cruentantus , Padogobius bonelli , and Periophthalmodon
septemradiatus .
Interestingly, mudskippers (subfamily: Oxudercinae) converge with the other
two Mediterranean species, Gobius cruentatus and Padogobius bonelli , in using
complex sounds during agonistic interactions, despite the great differences in both
phylogeny and ecology. The mudskipper Periophthalmodon septemradiatus emits
sounds while out of water, which are transmitted through the wet muddy substratum
(Polgar et al. 2011 ; Fig. 1f ). In addition to complex sounds, mudskippers also produce single, distinctly spaced pulses, similar in some respects to the “thump” or
“stutter” sounds recorded for Pomatoschistus canestrinii , Pomatoschistus pictus ,
and Bathygobius curacao (Table 3 ).
Currently, the only wide comparative analysis of acoustic diversity within gobies
is provided by the work of Malavasi et al. ( 2008 ) on Mediterranean gobies belonging to two related but distinct clades: the sand gobies (genus Pomatoschistus and
Knipowitschia ) and the Gobius - Padogobius complex. The results of this study suggested that the temporal patterning of sounds, mainly duration and pulse rate, are
the acoustical properties that are most effective in discriminating between species,
whereas frequency appears to be more constrained, converging to mean values
around 100–200 Hz.
In Mediterranean gobies, duration is negatively related to body size at the interspecifi c level (Malavasi et al. 2008 ). This pattern could be applied more broadly to
the whole 22 soniferous gobies known to date. However, extending the correlative
analysis between body size and duration within the entire gobioid group of soniferous species so far investigated is a diffi cult task, partly due to the limited number of
data collected for many species. However, if the negative correlation between sound
duration and body size will be confi rmed by future investigations, this would suggest
a possible morphological constraint related to the sound production mechanism (see
Parmentier et al. 2013 , Sect. 7.2 in this chapter). A comparative look at the means
and variation of the main acoustical properties of gobioids indicates that sound duration is an extremely variable property (ranging from ~200 ms to >4 s) (Table 3 ).
3 Sound Production Mechanisms
While drumming muscles inserting on the swim bladder are involved in sound production in many fi shes (Ladich and Fine 2006 ), similar sounds are produced by darters, sculpins, and darters without an apparent involvement of the swim bladder.
Investigations into sound production mechanisms of sculpins and gobies have found
that sounds are generated from contraction of muscles originating on the skull and
inserting on the pectoral girdle (Barber and Mowbray 1956 ; Parmentier et al. 2013 ;
Convergent Aspects of Acoustic Communication in Darters, Sculpins, and Gobies