Four type of sounds for one winner: Vocalizations during territorial behavior in the red-mouthed goby Gobius cruentatus (Pisces Gobiidae)

During territorial encounters, the acoustic repertoire of Gobius cruentatus consists of four types of sound emissions: a tonal sound, a noisy tonal sound, a train of individual pulses, and a complex sound. The complex sound is made of two distinct elements, an initial tonal part followed by pulses. This is the largest acoustic repertoire described so far in gobiid fish during aggressive interaction. Sounds are emitted, mainly by the residents, when fish have already started the interaction but before the encounter is settled. Therefore, sounds seem to have a threatening function. © 2008 Springer-Verlag and ISPA