We know that birds and insects sing, we know that people sing, but these aren't the only members of mother earth's choir. From mice to whales, there are many creatures communicating in song. The real wonder is, what are they singing about? And does their music sound the same as ours? Let's find out.
Our first vocalist is the Toadfish. With not much help in the looks department, the male toadfish needs to get a little creative when it comes to finding a mate. After all, with so many gorgeous creatures underwater, the competition is certainly intimidating. His song is said to sound like a grunt or hum, this is used to lure females in, and research discovered that each and every male toadfish has a completely unique sound.
The next singer may be a little unexpected, since the "ultrasonic" love songs made by mice are too high-pitched to be heard by the human ear. Indeed, male mice use their vocals to flirt with females, and some are better at wooing the ladies than others. Singing is an incredible mating tool for creatures, but for some, such as the Humpback whale, it is also used to communicate location and trust. These whales sing in Syntax, and the sound is enough to tell them whether or not another male whale is a friend or an enemy.
Unlike our next recording artists.: Mexican Free-tailed Bats also sing, but they sing for love. These romantic songs were listened to for hours by researchers from Texas A&M University, and it was concluded that they perform very specific sounds to attract females. They even adjust their tune in order to keep her interested, while simultaneously making a statement to other male mice that may pose a competition. Using sound to intimidate predators is rather common, but for the Antelope Squirrel, it is the complete opposite. These loners sing their songs and stomp their feet when they are feeling intimidated or scared... Kind of like a tantrum.
But there are thousands of singers living in nature, and the study of their unique melodies is an ongoing endeavor. Many of which, man may never hear, owing to their complexed frequencies. We can only imagine just how many songs mother nature is humming to...
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