Herrings Use Farts To Communicate 69

Posted by timothy on Wednesday November 05, 2003 @12:11PM from the whoopie dept.

unassimilatible writes "According to University of British Columbia scientists, herrings use farts to communicate. Biologists know that herrings can hear sounds of this frequency, while most fish cannot. This would allow them to communicate by Fast Repetitive Tick (FRT) without alerting predators to their presence. There is a .wav sound file available of the fish farting. Don't tell me the scientists didn't purposely choose an acronym that sounds like "fart.""

Herrings Use Farts To Communicate

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Chop down the largest tree in the forrest with.... (Score:5, Funny)

by Nutcase ( 86887 ) writes: on Wednesday November 05, 2003 @12:12PM (#7396945) Homepage Journal

This adds a whole new level to the Monty Python Knights who say NI! sketch. I am not entirely sure what that level is, but I am sure that it's there somewhere.

- Re:Chop down the largest tree in the forrest with. (Score:1)
  
  by bill_mcgonigle ( 4333 ) writes:
  
  That's the French Taunter scene, knucklehead.
- Re:Chop down the largest tree in the forrest with. (Score:1)
  
  by Thoth Ptolemy ( 110353 ) writes:
  
  String Theory as applied to Monty Python?
- Re:Chop down the largest tree in the forrest with. (Score:4, Funny)
  
  by Josh Booth ( 588074 ) writes: <joshbooth2000@ya ... com minus distro> on Wednesday November 05, 2003 @07:14PM (#7401644)
  
  "Then, you must cut down the mightiest tree in the forest wiiiiiiiiith, A FARTING HERRING!"
  
Maybe... (Score:5, Funny)

by KDan ( 90353 ) writes: on Wednesday November 05, 2003 @12:21PM (#7397025) Homepage

...that's how women communicate? That would explain all the misunderstandings, and why they'd get offended if you let out a big one.

Must be an insult or something...

Daniel

- Re:Maybe... (Score:2)
  
  by Noofus ( 114264 ) * writes:
  
  I dunno about that - my GF makes fun of me cause I cant fart nearly as loud as she can. She calls me incapable...
I tried to think of something funny. (Score:1, Insightful)

by Anonymous Coward writes:

I really did try to think of something that would get me modded to Score:5 Funny
You know, the usual "In Soviet Russia farts fish for YOU" or the old standby about hot grits and whatshername, but the story is just funny enough that it doesn't need anything else.
I wish I was a Biologist doing fun stuff like this and not a Comp Sci. major doing Win2003 installs. ...sigh...
- Re:I tried to think of something funny. (Score:1)
  
  by g0hare ( 565322 ) writes:
  
  fun job = a) very scarce or b) real low paying or c) both of the above. Install Win2003, collect your check, and go do something fun after work.
I've done that (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes:

I once communicated my love for garlic to an elevator full of co-workers. From both ends as a matter of fact. Let me see a herring do that!
- Re:I've done that (Score:1)
  
  by Tablizer ( 95088 ) writes:
  
  I once communicated my love for garlic to an elevator full of co-workers.
  
  Don't you mean EX-co-workers? When a round of layoffs are needed, I don't think Mr. Garlic Cheeks will stay low on such list.
Idea for a new Star Trek alien race! (Score:5, Funny)

by Picass0 ( 147474 ) writes: on Wednesday November 05, 2003 @12:39PM (#7397212) Homepage Journal

Now that this has been demonstrated in nature certainly there would be aliens who speak "Fartese".

Archer: "Welcome on board the Enterprise. This is the turbolift, and it will take us to the bri...

Alien Leader:FfffffffffRIPPPP!!!

Archer: Um, the bridge, *cough* where we control...

Alien #2: (slow squishy sound)

Archer: Goddamn! I mean, Perhaps I should show you something closer. Here's th...

Alien #3: (High pitched sqeaker)

Archer: *gag* Fuck me! *choke* No wonder you guys don't get more visitors! I alr...

Aliens (all): Faaaaaarttttttt.....

Archer: Red Alert! Target alien ship!

- Re:Idea for a new Star Trek alien race! (Score:2, Funny)
  
  by pmz ( 462998 ) writes:
  
  They aren't aliens. They're the people who watch Monday Night Football.
I dunno, guys... (Score:4, Funny)

by zurkog ( 96881 ) writes: on Wednesday November 05, 2003 @12:50PM (#7397328) Homepage

...Something smells fishy about this.

(ouch. Sorry, had to be said).

Made me think about the Dr. Who and the Curse of the Fatal Death [rowanatkinson.org], though.

- Re:I dunno, guys... (Score:3, Funny)
  
  by bill_mcgonigle ( 4333 ) writes:
  
  ...Something smells fishy about this.
  
  Don't worry, these results are just a red herring.
  - Re:I dunno, guys... (Score:2)
    
    by jazman ( 9111 ) writes:
    
    oh no, not the fish jokes, not in this plaice...
- Re:I dunno, guys... (Score:2)
  
  by dacarr ( 562277 ) writes:
  
  OK, notional moderation, -1e+06, pun. =^_^=
next thing you know.. (Score:2, Funny)

by viniosity ( 592905 ) writes:

From the article:

Fish are known to call out to potential mates with low "grunts and buzzes"
Isn't this similar to how man started communicating? Except with grunts and whistles. Next thing you know those fish will have suburban sprawl and SUVs..
Eat 'em while you can!
- Re:next thing you know.. (Score:2)
  
  by azav ( 469988 ) writes:
  
  Yes, it is.
  
  The noise is just coming out the wrong end.
  - Re:next thing you know.. (Score:1)
    
    by Carnildo ( 712617 ) writes:
    
    Of which? The humans, or the fish?
    - Re:next thing you know.. (Score:1)
      
      by Randy Wang ( 700248 ) writes:
      
      Does it matter?
      
      Suffice to say: Sucks to have to go to a parliamentary debate if you're a herring - you'd think there'd be enough hot air as is...
wav trouble (Score:2)

by Catskul ( 323619 ) writes:

Anyone else having trouble with that wav file ?
Xmms refuses to enqueue it, and play gives a really distorted sound.
- Re:wav trouble (Score:1)
  
  by JamesP ( 688957 ) writes:
  
  and play gives a really distorted sound.
  
  How d'ja know? Have you ever heard a fish farting IRL???
- No trouble at all (Score:1)
  
  by Ignis Flatus ( 689403 ) writes:
  
  In fact, I understood that herring perfectly. He said "Guess what I had for dinner?!"
Of course (Score:4, Funny)

by Strange Ranger ( 454494 ) writes: on Wednesday November 05, 2003 @01:07PM (#7397471)

> "Schooling behavior in herring is exploited by several top predators with complex hunting behaviors. Squid encircle herring schools and dart in to prey on the corralled fish."

> "...would allow them to communicate by Fast Repetitive Tick (FRT) without alerting predators to their presence."

Silly scientists! Everybody knows... ticks are for squids.

Help me.. (Score:1)

by schnits0r ( 633893 ) writes:

Maybe I need a different codec. When I play it in winamp and media player I don't hear a lot, jsut a bunch of fast reptitive ticks.
- Re:Help me.. (Score:2)
  
  by c.emmertfoster ( 577356 ) writes:
  
  Is this a troll?
  
  The "fast repetitive ticks" are what you are supposed to hear.
- Re:listen up as I bend over (Score:1)
  
  by pmz ( 462998 ) writes:
  
  fffffFFFFFTT..blurp..ggrrrrrrr! rrrrrrr...frump!
Next they'll tell us (Score:2)

by DuckDuckBOOM! ( 535473 ) writes:

that they also tap dance [razorcake.com].
- Re:Next they'll tell us (Score:1)
  
  by mad.frog ( 525085 ) writes:
  
  "A flying saucer creature named Zog arrived on Earth to explain how wars could be prevented, and how cancer could be cured. Zog brought the information from Margo, a planet where the natives conversed by means of farts and tap-dancing. Zog landed at night in Connecticut. He had no sooner touched down than he saw a house on fire. He rushed into the house, farting and tap-dancing, warning people about the terrible danger they were in. The head of the house brained him with a golf club."
Where do they get the gas from? (Score:2)

by TheLink ( 130905 ) writes:

If they do it a lot wouldn't they run out of gas?
- Re:Where do they get the gas from? (Score:1)
  
  by BrokenHalo ( 565198 ) writes:
  
  Natural selection putting a limit on unnecessary conversation?
  Maybe Slashdot needs something like this, oh wait...
Oh man, what a great opening line (Score:5, Funny)

by NanoGator ( 522640 ) writes: on Wednesday November 05, 2003 @02:03PM (#7398091) Homepage Journal

"Biologists have linked a mysterious, underwater farting sound to bubbles coming out of a herring's anus."

Man I thought I was reading the Onion for a moment.

burried the lead (Score:1)

by jannesha ( 441851 ) writes:

The headline should have read:

Longstanding controversy settled: Fish DO fart.
Yet another reason... (Score:2)

by azav ( 469988 ) writes:

Yet another reason why Herring will never be considered a superior life form.

Better keep them away from my chili or they'll keep the whole North Sea up all night.
What's next? (Score:1)

by HotNeedleOfInquiry ( 598897 ) writes:

IP-over-farts...
- MODUP! (Score:2)
  
  by lommer ( 566164 ) writes:
  
  Goddamn somebody needs to write this RFC, it'll be more famous than that damn carrier pigeon one!
true for RedHerring's too... (Score:2)

by ubiquitin ( 28396 ) * writes:

Not sure about you but the first thing I thought of when reading this headline was that it applies to the RedHerring [redherring.com]'s mode(s) of commucation as well. phphhhhht! What was that? Smells like a money-grubbing silicon valley "journalist"-come-lately to me.
Ob William S Burroughs quote (Score:1)

by Net_Wakker ( 576655 ) writes:

"Did I ever tell you about the man who taught his asshole how to talk?"
- Re:Ob William S Burroughs quote (Score:1)
  
  by BrokenHalo ( 565198 ) writes:
  
  No, but I used to know a tuba player who could play "the Teddy-Bears' Picnic" by farting into his instrument.
  Honest, it's true. Yech.
- Re:Ob William S Burroughs quote (Score:1)
  
  by The_great_orgazmo ( 715020 ) writes:
  
  Yea you did, last thing i heard that guy made it to president of the united states.
DOH!!! (Score:2, Funny)

by Xiaotou ( 695728 ) writes:

The biologists initially assumed that the swim bladder was also producing the high-pitched sound they had detected. But then they noticed that a stream of bubbles expelled from the fish's anus corresponded exactly with the timing of the noise

I dunno 'bout you, but that's the first thing I would have suspected if I heard a "high-pitched" sound coming from a fish. Where are these scientists from? Wales?

And, bye the bye, just exactly where is the anus located on a fish?
- Re:DOH!!! (Score:1)
  
  by rockola ( 240707 ) writes:
  
  i just exactly where is the anus located on a fish?
  
  Pretty close to the sphincter.
  - Re:DOH!!! (Score:1)
    
    by Xiaotou ( 695728 ) writes:
    
    In Nautical terms, I suppose we should say Aft, right?
Wow, Darwin's theory in action.... (Score:3, Funny)

by StressGuy ( 472374 ) writes: on Wednesday November 05, 2003 @04:09PM (#7399534)

Probably played out something like this:

1) Herring is confronted by big nasty predetor, darn near shits himself
.
2) Aroma causes said predetor to lose appetite
.
3) Other herring, alerted by noise, flee to safety
.
4) Soon, herring learn to fart to warn other herring of impending doom.
.
5) Herring's whose fart do not also alert the predetor are highly prized and get first pick of the female herring.
.
6) "Quiet farting" passed on the future generations.
.
. ....at the institute, they said I was mad....

Much better (worse?) abbrev. (Score:2)

by Bowling Moses ( 591924 ) writes:

The six genes specifying the utilization of L-fucose as a carbon and energy source are known as the "fuc" genes. Among them is L-fuculose kinase, also known as "fucK." The abstract of the paper where the genes were cloned (and I think named) can be found on PubMed [nih.gov].
The perfect virus headline! (Score:1)

by Cragen ( 697038 ) writes:

What /.'er could ever keep from clicking on that .wav file link, even if it might have a virus?? "nonononono, I gotta!!!!" #click#
"#$%@! I knew it!"
Oooold news (Score:1)

by Mathness ( 145187 ) writes:

Explore the fish in interactive mode here [numsefisk.dk] (click on "Prik til fisken"), you need flash though :|
Just keep poking it :)

Note: The site is in Danish, so might need Babelfish or similiar ;p
Dubya knew! (Score:2, Funny)

by skahshah ( 603640 ) writes:

He said it:

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." [bushisms.com]

Everybody knows that farting has always been a great way to socialize. See gatherings of young men, where there is a lot of farting competition.
- Re:Bah (Score:1)
  
  by haggisman ( 682031 ) writes:
  
  Look for SCO to claim IP rights over the fart generation technology. It *is* a derivative technology of Unix after all.
Dr Who Reference (Score:2)

by Burb ( 620144 ) writes:

In the Whoniverse, this would suggest that herring are in fact natives of the planet Tersurus - the most kindly and peace-loving race ever encountered by the Doctor, but also the most shunned and abhorred species because they communicated by precisely-modulated gastric emissions. 'Oh no, the planet of the bottom burpers' [tetrap.com]
Up until 2 minutes ago... (Score:1)

by dos4who ( 564592 ) writes:

..I was actually quite proud to be a British Columbian... ~m
final discovery (Score:1)

by Tablizer ( 95088 ) writes:

To round this off, scientists need to find a fish that picks its nose and eats its own boogers.
Does a large school of herring have the.. (Score:1)

by annisette ( 682090 ) * writes:

/.ing effect? It muct be confusing, go left, no right no, who is humming, I need an answer not a joke, there I was had my chance tried to fart but.., will wverybody please shut up I am trying to think!

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Chop down the largest tree in the forrest with.... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Chop down the largest tree in the forrest with. (Score:1)

Re:Chop down the largest tree in the forrest with. (Score:1)

Re:Chop down the largest tree in the forrest with. (Score:4, Funny)

Maybe... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Maybe... (Score:2)

I tried to think of something funny. (Score:1, Insightful)

Re:I tried to think of something funny. (Score:1)

I've done that (Score:1, Funny)

Re:I've done that (Score:1)

Idea for a new Star Trek alien race! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Idea for a new Star Trek alien race! (Score:2, Funny)

I dunno, guys... (Score:4, Funny)

Re:I dunno, guys... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:I dunno, guys... (Score:2)

Re:I dunno, guys... (Score:2)

next thing you know.. (Score:2, Funny)

Re:next thing you know.. (Score:2)

Re:next thing you know.. (Score:1)

Re:next thing you know.. (Score:1)

wav trouble (Score:2)

Re:wav trouble (Score:1)

No trouble at all (Score:1)

Of course (Score:4, Funny)

Help me.. (Score:1)

Re:Help me.. (Score:2)

Re:listen up as I bend over (Score:1)

Next they'll tell us (Score:2)

Re:Next they'll tell us (Score:1)

Where do they get the gas from? (Score:2)

Re:Where do they get the gas from? (Score:1)

Oh man, what a great opening line (Score:5, Funny)

burried the lead (Score:1)

Yet another reason... (Score:2)

What's next? (Score:1)

MODUP! (Score:2)

true for RedHerring's too... (Score:2)

Ob William S Burroughs quote (Score:1)

Re:Ob William S Burroughs quote (Score:1)

Re:Ob William S Burroughs quote (Score:1)

DOH!!! (Score:2, Funny)

Re:DOH!!! (Score:1)

Re:DOH!!! (Score:1)

Wow, Darwin's theory in action.... (Score:3, Funny)

Much better (worse?) abbrev. (Score:2)

The perfect virus headline! (Score:1)

Oooold news (Score:1)

Dubya knew! (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Bah (Score:1)

Dr Who Reference (Score:2)

Up until 2 minutes ago... (Score:1)

final discovery (Score:1)

Does a large school of herring have the.. (Score:1)

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