The noise that's keeping people awake could be fish mating.

In the US , mysterious sounds that are bothering Florida residents at night are most likely emitted by black drumfish during their breeding season.

Scientists may have found the source of the mysterious noise that woke residents in Tampa, Florida, at night, the Smithsonian reported on February 1st. The noise, most likely made by black drumfish ( Pogonias cromis ) during their breeding season, is so loud that it sometimes causes houses to vibrate slightly. They may produce the low-frequency drumming sound by bending their muscles to strike their swim bladders.

Black-headed fish typically mate on winter nights. This may be why people hear more noise around this time of year.

Black drumfish are quite popular with anglers and can grow up to 1.7 meters long. They have large gray or black scales and barbels on their lower jaws. Black drumfish devour fish, shellfish, crabs, shrimp, mussels, and many other invertebrates with their strong teeth. They typically live in lagoons, estuaries, and bays, and even in the open sea.

The mysterious sounds of Tampa have been occurring since at least 2021. Since then, residents have offered numerous theories about the source of the noise, including an air force base, a party boat, or construction activity. Over time, residents became increasingly annoyed and decided to contribute funds to a study investigating the noise. James Locascio, program manager for acoustics and fish ecology at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, led the research.

Locascio agreed to place the microphones underwater for two months to study them. The team reached their fundraising goal earlier this week, and Locascio is now looking for potential locations to install the recording devices.

Underwater sounds traveling through the air are unusual. But the noise of black drumfish could be reaching people's homes through tunnels or the ground. It's also possible that the black drumfish population in Tampa Bay has increased dramatically recently for some reason.

"It's a low-frequency sound, so it travels better and farther, and it's more effective at passing through different environments," Locascio said. If fish are indeed the cause of sleepless nights, residents will have little choice but to wear earplugs and wait for the mating season to pass.

Thu Thao (According to Smithsonian )

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