Earlier this year, we wrote about the different kinds of animals that have accents. Some whales have individual accents while others have distinct regional dialects. Read more about that here. Now, a new study from the University of Exeter shows that fish may be included in that list!

There are several species of vocal fish, including cod and haddock. Steve Simpson, associate professor of marine biology at Exeter, has been studying the different “voices” of cod and identified variations between those living in America and Europe.

According to Simpson, American cod make “a staccato, banging, bop bop bop sound” while European cod make more of a “deep rumbling growling.”

Simpson’s research suggests it’s possible that cod living in different areas around Britain could also have localized accents because they gather in the same spawning grounds generation after generation.

His research also focuses on the impact that man-made noise pollution is having on vocal animals.

“Fish produce a variety of sounds, sometimes using their swim bladders to make thumping and rumblings sounds, to establish territories, raise the alarm and attract mates,” he said. “In noisy places the ‘gossip’ essential to their society is being drowned out. If we value our fish stocks – or our Friday night fish supper – we need to understand this.”

To learn more:

Read the news release: Scientists search for regional accents in cod

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