Ultrasound detection by clupeiform fishes

It has previously been shown that at least one species of fish (the America n shad) in the order clupeiforms (herrings, shads, and relatives) is able t o detect sounds up to 180 kHz. However, it has not been clear whether other members of this order are also able to detect ultrasound.:It is now demons trated, using auditory brainstem response (ABR), that at least one addition al species, the gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus), is able to detect ultr asound, while several other species including the bay anchovy (Anchoa mitch illi), scaled sardine (Harengula jaguana), and Spanish sardine (Sardinella aurita) only detect sounds to about 4 kHz. ABR is used to confirm ultrasoni c hearing in the American shad. The results suggest-that ultrasound detecti on may be limited to one subfamily of clupeiforms, the Alosinae. It is. sug gested that ultrasound detection involves the utricle of the inner ear and speculate as to why, despite having similar tar structures, only one group may detect ultrasound. (C) 2001 Acoustical Society of America.