Natural Instruments

Humans and animals make sounds by pressing air or water through their vocal chords, or lips, to create an impulse or oscillation, starting a chain reaction of energy that reaches our ears. Other sounds are made by banging on diaphragms or hard surfaces and brushing or scraping different textures together (like with a violin). Adapting to their environment, animals have evolved to create a wide variety of sounds for different purposes.

TAP/CLICK each image to find out the animal and how they make noise.

  • Human Larynx

    Humans have muscles in the vocal track of their throats that oscillate as air passes through them. Applied tension on the muscles adjusts the pitch or frequency of the sound.

    PHOTO: Welleschik

  • Whale "Monkey Lips"

    Whales, dolphins, and porpoises blow air through a pair of muscles that act like trumpet lips.

    PHOTO: Ted W. Cranford, QMC

  • Pharyngeal Teeth Scraping

    Some fish have sets of teeth in their throats that they scratch together creating a scraping noise.

    PHOTO: http://www.rondeauprovincialpark.ca/2011/08/the-fishy-conundrum/

  • Snapping Shrimp

    Snapping shrimp snap their claw closed so fast that it creates a “cavitation bubble” underwater that pops loud enough to stun their prey.

    PHOTO: "Snapping shrimp make flashing bubbles", Nature, 2001

  • Sonic Bladder

    Midshipmen make sounds by flexing, or “oscillating” an internal gas bladder with sonic muscles. Along with the grunts and “boat whistles” the Male Midshipmen have a chorusing “love song” which they hum during mating season.

    PHOTO: http://biology.nicerweb.com

  • Lobster Scraping

    Lobsters have a “file and plectrum” mechanism attached to their antennae akin to the file and plectrum mechanism found on cricket wings!

    PHOTO: Artwork © Sally J. Bensusen, used with permission