Russian speech allows interpreting the word “language” in different ways - this is both an organ and the ability to verbally transmit information. Despite the silence of the inhabitants of the waters, which has become a household word, the question of whether the fish have a tongue can be answered in the affirmative three times, and each "yes" will correspond to a separate concept from the life of these creatures.
Tongue as part of a fish body
For most, this organ is present and is part of the digestive system, and often an assistant in catching future food and one of the many places on the fish’s body where taste buds are located. The size, shape and capabilities of this organ are different, as are the representatives of this group of animals, including tens of thousands of species, themselves.
However, there are representatives deprived of such an evolutionary tool, but they also adapted, found the opportunity to otherwise implement the functions of the language in practice. For example, a silty jumper, often hunting in the air, transferred similar mechanisms from the water element.
In a situation typical for most fish, the tongue draws water and food along with it. Coming to land, the fish draws water into the mouth and, seeing the prey, spits out the liquid in parts, and then sucks it back together with the food. And in this case it is not so important whether the fish have a tongue - photo and video surveillance have proved that even in the absence of this part of the body, the fish are not going to stay hungry.
Parasite-language: who settles in the mouth of a fish
In the animal world there is a unique example of parasitism, when a creature that has survived does not just attach itself to some part of the body of the one it uses, but replaces the functional organ of the victim.
The name given to the opportunist by scientists is Cymothoa exigua. In English speech, the expressive name tongue-eating louse is common, which in literal translation means a woodworm eating a tongue.
Ichthyologists have reliably identified eight species of fish that attract parasitic crustaceans, but in fact the figure may be much larger. To penetrate the fish’s body, the creature uses its gills or climbs directly into the mouth opening, where it launches fourteen claws to fix its position on the basis of the tongue. The parasite draws blood from it, which ensures the death of this part of the body.
Then the wood louse is attached to the remaining base of the organ and begins to perform its functions, mainly by eating mucus, although it is possible to feed on the blood of fish. Usually, the presence of a parasite does not affect the host’s state of health, only if the latter grows to a large size, the death of the fish may follow due to the blocking of food access to its body.
Each individual Cymothoa exigua once finds a place to live, but two parasites can settle in the fish’s mouth at the same time, and even give offspring that sets off for free swimming to search for their own host. Such a situation is possible when a young male (and all wood lice eating tongues initially belong to the male sex, and only having fixed themselves on the body of the fish, change it) looks for a house in which the female has already attached itself.
Isopods (as these crustaceans are otherwise called) are recognized to be practically harmless to humans, however, there has been a single case of poisoning when ingested, and there is also a risk of being bitten by a living parasite. Therefore, in order to check whether the fish have a tongue, it is better to be careful when looking at their catch in their mouths.
Are fish capable of communication?
A separate issue is whether fish have a language that plays the role of a means of mutual information exchange. And here the "silent" creatures are able to surprise the uninitiated. In addition to the non-verbal means inherent in all living things (in fish it is coloring and its change, body gestures, manner of movement, smells and secrets of the glands), they have a wide range of sound signals that are clearly audible even by humans and are very different for different species.
For example, mullet signals are similar to a horse's clatter; a horse mackerel makes sounds characteristic of a dog. Triggle is recognized as the most talkative - she practically does not shut up, either grumbling or croaking.
Studies have shown that all fish speak their own way. Different species and individuals differ in the degree of talkativeness, like people. However, part of their “speech” is outside the frequency range perceived by the human ear. Basically, the underwater inhabitants give each other signals about the threat, the availability of food in a particular place, report on their location and direction.
What prevents fish from speaking in the traditional sense if they have a tongue in their mouth? The absence of other important parts of the speech apparatus, namely, the larynx, pharynx. They are also devoid of vocal cords and moving lips.
Myths are widespread about the lack of memory in fish, the ability to think and, of course, the inability to make sounds. This gave rise to the allegorical name "fish language" for the communication system of the deaf-mute. The veiled content of the statements is due to another comparison - the “fish tongue” is sometimes called thieves' jargon.
