Scientists have discovered dozens of animal species that were once thought to be silent, but are actually vocal communicators – including singing sea turtles and acoustic-producing living fossils.
It turns out that birds, amphibians and mammals aren't the only animals to communicate by sound. An international research team found evidence that 53 species of four major vertebrate organism groups – turtles, tuataras, limbless amphibians and lungfishes – all of which were thought to be silent creatures, actually intentionally create sound to communicate. Their findings were published inGabriel Jorgewich-Cohen, a Ph.D.
Researchers did not include defensive sounds in their research, such as lizards hissing and sniffing. Despite this ancient origin, it's taken years for scientists to make these discoveries about vertebrate communication. Jorgewich-Cohen told CBS News there are"many reasons" for such a delay.