This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/21/joy-noisy-sex-animals-not-humans-mexican-fish-corvina
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| The joy of noisy sex (as long as it’s between animals not humans) | The joy of noisy sex (as long as it’s between animals not humans) |
| (30 days later) | |
| Contact author | |
| Thu 21 Dec 2017 10.00 GMT | |
| Last modified on Thu 21 Dec 2017 10.01 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| The Gulf corvina, a Mexican fish, has a mating call that sounds like a “very loud machine gun”, and once a year hundreds of thousands of them gather in an orgy of spawning, all firing off together. Imagine the collective noise. It’s one of the loudest wildlife events on Earth, so tremendously loud that it can temporarily, or permanently, deafen nearby seals, sea-lions and dolphins. | The Gulf corvina, a Mexican fish, has a mating call that sounds like a “very loud machine gun”, and once a year hundreds of thousands of them gather in an orgy of spawning, all firing off together. Imagine the collective noise. It’s one of the loudest wildlife events on Earth, so tremendously loud that it can temporarily, or permanently, deafen nearby seals, sea-lions and dolphins. |
| Researchers were surprised to find these marine mammals feeding on the corvinas. But why not? We humans go to deafening pop concerts, voluntarily impairing our hearing in pursuit of pleasure. Why not go deaf in pursuit of dinner? | Researchers were surprised to find these marine mammals feeding on the corvinas. But why not? We humans go to deafening pop concerts, voluntarily impairing our hearing in pursuit of pleasure. Why not go deaf in pursuit of dinner? |
| These noisy orgies may sound like fun for the bulk of the corvinas, but sadly they all too often end in tragedy. Because as well as marine predators, humans have heard the corvinas at it, and fisherman arrive in a trice, netting tonnes of the poor fish – about two million of them in one spawning season – so it will soon be goodbye corvinas, and if we’re not careful, that will be another species gone for ever. And just because they made such a racket while having sex. | These noisy orgies may sound like fun for the bulk of the corvinas, but sadly they all too often end in tragedy. Because as well as marine predators, humans have heard the corvinas at it, and fisherman arrive in a trice, netting tonnes of the poor fish – about two million of them in one spawning season – so it will soon be goodbye corvinas, and if we’re not careful, that will be another species gone for ever. And just because they made such a racket while having sex. |
| It can be risky for us too. Shrieking and roaring may seem like fun at the time, there is nothing like a bit of freedom, letting rip and complete disinhibition to perk a couple up, but then what? What did the neighbours hear and think? Or the odd passerby? Or anyone else in your home? | It can be risky for us too. Shrieking and roaring may seem like fun at the time, there is nothing like a bit of freedom, letting rip and complete disinhibition to perk a couple up, but then what? What did the neighbours hear and think? Or the odd passerby? Or anyone else in your home? |
| I once shared a flat with a fellow whose girlfriend shrieked and roared like billyo during sex, in the bedroom next to mine. Being a lonely spinster at the time, recovering from the breakup of a long relationship, I found the situation rather distressing. It was probably a mixture of envy, bitterness, misery and embarrassment, because it wasn’t any of my business, but I couldn’t avoid hearing it. And then I had to look chilled out at the kitchen table, as if nothing untoward had happened, because it was the early 1970s. | I once shared a flat with a fellow whose girlfriend shrieked and roared like billyo during sex, in the bedroom next to mine. Being a lonely spinster at the time, recovering from the breakup of a long relationship, I found the situation rather distressing. It was probably a mixture of envy, bitterness, misery and embarrassment, because it wasn’t any of my business, but I couldn’t avoid hearing it. And then I had to look chilled out at the kitchen table, as if nothing untoward had happened, because it was the early 1970s. |
| Sometimes noise can be a bit one-sided. There was once a football journalist who would roar, “Shoot! Shoot!” as he climaxed. His wife remained silent. Bliss for him, but probably not so much fun for her. | Sometimes noise can be a bit one-sided. There was once a football journalist who would roar, “Shoot! Shoot!” as he climaxed. His wife remained silent. Bliss for him, but probably not so much fun for her. |
| As a contrast, I find the noise of the frogs mating in my garden pond mid-February rather delightful. There they are, on the first sunny day, croaking and thrashing about. It means that spring is on the way, but again this event can be marred by tragedy. There seem to be fewer females every year, which means more males ganging up on each one, in what I once heard on Radio 4 described as “a cluster of sexual frenzy”. And that was sometimes the end of a female. Death by asphyxiation. | As a contrast, I find the noise of the frogs mating in my garden pond mid-February rather delightful. There they are, on the first sunny day, croaking and thrashing about. It means that spring is on the way, but again this event can be marred by tragedy. There seem to be fewer females every year, which means more males ganging up on each one, in what I once heard on Radio 4 described as “a cluster of sexual frenzy”. And that was sometimes the end of a female. Death by asphyxiation. |
| On a more positive note, it is fortunate that we don’t eat tortoises, because they make a terrific noise while having sex. At least the males do, bashing the ladies with their shells as an introduction, then stretching their little necks up and heads back, and crying out loud, in a rather poignant way towards the end, I thought. No noise from Mrs Tortoise. | On a more positive note, it is fortunate that we don’t eat tortoises, because they make a terrific noise while having sex. At least the males do, bashing the ladies with their shells as an introduction, then stretching their little necks up and heads back, and crying out loud, in a rather poignant way towards the end, I thought. No noise from Mrs Tortoise. |
| Our own lone tortoise only has rather morose, noiseless sex with a small towel on the kitchen floor. The only shrieking is from oversensitive visitors who happen to spot him. I suspect it would be much more fun if he had a partner or two, and could really let himself go, but life is rarely fair. How often is anyone ever completely free to do what they want? | Our own lone tortoise only has rather morose, noiseless sex with a small towel on the kitchen floor. The only shrieking is from oversensitive visitors who happen to spot him. I suspect it would be much more fun if he had a partner or two, and could really let himself go, but life is rarely fair. How often is anyone ever completely free to do what they want? |
| The “love calls” of the corvinas have only got them into serious trouble. But scientists report that listening to them will at least help to keep track of their numbers, because the “spawning spectacle deserves increased appreciation and conservation”. | The “love calls” of the corvinas have only got them into serious trouble. But scientists report that listening to them will at least help to keep track of their numbers, because the “spawning spectacle deserves increased appreciation and conservation”. |
| That sounds about right, for animals and fish. They should be able to make as much noise as they like, screaming, moaning or suggesting gunfire. But I’m not sure about us, unless we’re miles away from anyone else. Gawping at, and eavesdropping on, private behaviour doesn’t seem to do anyone much good. We could all do with more fleeting moments of pleasure, but perhaps not as a spectacle. | That sounds about right, for animals and fish. They should be able to make as much noise as they like, screaming, moaning or suggesting gunfire. But I’m not sure about us, unless we’re miles away from anyone else. Gawping at, and eavesdropping on, private behaviour doesn’t seem to do anyone much good. We could all do with more fleeting moments of pleasure, but perhaps not as a spectacle. |
| • Michele Hanson is a Guardian columnist and an author | • Michele Hanson is a Guardian columnist and an author |
| Sex | |
| Opinion | |
| fish | |
| Animals | |
| Relationships | |
| comment | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |