Sea Sounds Naval Meterological and Oceanography Command 03.19.01 The undersea world presents an image of peaceful, quiet serenity. This appearance is quite deceptive. Besides being dynamic and challenging frontiers for exploration, the oceans are extremely noisy places.    Land animals, such as dogs and cats, bark and meow to communicate. Fish and other marine animals also communicate with their own unique sounds. In combination, these form a confusing medley which, picked up on radar, can sound remarkably similar to the noises made by boat engines and propellers.    These sounds apparently serve as communication, defense, and courtship means between the many different species of marine creatures.    Studies of the squeals made by dolphins and porpoises reveal that these highly intelligent sea mammals have a very sophisticated "language" and that they can even mimic the human voice. Whales communicate with sounds similar to the trumpeting of elephants.    Drumfish and groupers produce drumlike thumps, probably as a defense mechanism against predators. Croakers are so called because of the hollow noises they emit. The mating call of the toadfish resembles a boat whistle.    Other noisy sea animals include sea lions, seals, puffers, crabs, snapping shrimp, and lobsters.    Naval Meterological and Oceanography Command  Public Affairs Office  1100 Balch Boulevard  Stennis Space Center, Mississippi 39529 ©2001 The Aurora Collection, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Site Development by: Interactive Multimedia. Inc.