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The EOD sound response in weakly electric fish

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Summary

  1. 1.

    A spontaneous EOD response to sound is described in two gymnotoids of the pulseElectricOrganDischarge (EOD) type,Hypopomus andGymnotus, and in one mormyrid,Brienomyrus (Figs. 2–4).

  2. 2.

    In all three species, the EOD response to the sound onset was a transient EOD rate increase. In the low EOD rateHypopomus (3–6 EODs/s at rest) the first, second, or third EOD interval following sound onset was significantly shorter than the average EOD interval before stimulation. The shortest latency found was 100 ms, the longest ca. 1.2 s.Gymnotus (around 50 EODs/s at rest) responded similarly, but the third interval after sound onset was the first to be affected even at highest intensities (shortest latencies approx. 60 ms; latencies > 0.5 s at low sound intensities). InBrienomyrus (4–8 EODs/s at rest) the response occurred already at the first EOD interval after sound onset.

  3. 3.

    An EOD sound response was recorded inHypopomus and inGymnotus up to 5,000 Hz sound frequency (in oneGymnotus individual: up to 7,000 Hz). Due to technical limitations the low frequency limit of the response could not be exactly determined: the fishes responded well even below 100 Hz.Hypopomus had its maximum sensitivity around 500 Hz (Fig. 5),Gymnotus around 1,000 Hz (Fig. 6).

  4. 4.

    In all three species the EOD sound response was graded with sound intensity (Hypopomus: Fig. 7).

  5. 5.

    No EOD response to sound was found in two gymnotoids of the wave type,Eigenmannia andApteronotus, and in the gymnotoid pulse fishRhamphichthys. A criterion is proposed by which it should be possible to predict whether or not a weakly electric fish species will show the EOD sound response.

  6. 6.

    It is concluded that the EOD response to sound is similar to EOD responses to other kinds of stimulation (light, touch, vibration, food, and even electrical). The possible biological function is discussed.

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Author notes

  1. Bernd Kramer

    Present address: Fakultät für Biologie und Vorklinische Medizin, Zoologisches Institut der Universität, D-8400, Regensburg, Federal Republic of Germany

  2. Jürgen Tautz

    Present address: Department of Psychology, Stanford University, 94305, Stanford, California, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Konstanz, Postfach 5560, D-7750, Konstanz, Federal Republic of Germany

    Bernd Kramer, Jürgen Tautz & Hubert Markl

Authors
  1. Bernd Kramer
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  2. Jürgen Tautz
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  3. Hubert Markl
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Additional information

We wish to thank Dr. J. Kien (University of Regensburg), Dr. F. Kirschbaum (University of Köln), and Dr. G.W.M. Westby (University of Sheffield) for critically reading the manuscript. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (grants Kr 446/8, Ma 374/10). We wish to thank the computer centre and the mechanical, the electronical, and the carpentry workshop of the University of Konstanz for excellent aid. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the expert technical assistance of H.-J. Burger.

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Kramer, B., Tautz, J. & Markl, H. The EOD sound response in weakly electric fish. J. Comp. Physiol. 143, 435–441 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00609910

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