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Batticaloa Lagoon singing fish: hydrophone frequencies and estuarine catfishes?

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T
Thiru Singing Fish•905 rep

What underwater acoustic frequencies and catfish swim-bladder mechanisms generate the musical chord hums recorded beneath Kallady Bridge in Batticaloa?

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4 Answers from travellers

✓Accepted Answer

The legendary "singing fish" of Batticaloa Lagoon—recorded beneath the historic Kallady Bridge (Lady Manning Bridge)—is a documented estuarine acoustic phenomenon. During calm, full-moon nights between April and September when lagoon salinity peaks, hydrophone recordings capture sustained harmonic hums spanning 80 Hz to 1.2 kHz, resembling plucked cello strings. The sound is generated primarily by marine catfishes (Arius species) and croakers (Sciaenidae) vibrating sonic muscles attached to their gas-filled swim bladders during courtship, amplified acoustically by iron bridge pilings.

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D
Dr Dharshani NARA•1910 rep

Visitors can rent wooden paddle canoes at the bridge pier; pressing your ear against one end of a submerged wooden oar allows you to hear the aquatic hum directly.

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T
Thiru Singing Fish•905 rep

Outboard motor boat traffic creates low-frequency acoustic noise masking; hydrophone monitoring must be conducted from stationary non-motorized craft.

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C
Capt Roshan Sea•1720 rep

Listening sessions are optimal between 10:00 PM and midnight when background urban traffic noise across the bridge subsides.

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S
Sarah Field Scout•1720 rep

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