Scientists Document First Shark Sounds in Rig Species

Researchers have recorded rig sharks producing clicking noises by snapping their teeth, challenging long-held beliefs about shark biology.

The discovery marks the first documented instance of a shark actively making sounds, recorded in juvenile rig sharks during laboratory experiments.
The clicking noises, lasting about 48 milliseconds, are hypothesized to result from the snapping of the shark's plate-like teeth.
Researchers observed the sounds primarily during handling, suggesting they may be a stress or startle response rather than a form of communication.
The clicks include broadband frequencies between 2.4 and 18.5 kilohertz, some of which are outside the sharks' own hearing range.
Further studies are needed to confirm if the behavior occurs in the wild and to explore its potential ecological and communicative significance.