Anybody who has been in the general vicinity of a small child for more than 5 minutes may be surprised to find that “children” do not feature on this list. Incredibly, however, screaming kids are not even close to being the loudest creatures on Earth. Even the loudest babies only cry at a maximum of around 110 decibels (still enough to make you go deaf if you’re exposed to it long enough. Yay parenting!). As you’re about to find out, there are a few animals out there who are much louder.
Howler Monkey – 140 decibels
Well, obviously, with a name like that. Found throughout the rain forests of Central and South America, the howler monkey’s calls can be heard nearly 5km (3mi) away through dense forest. The calls of howler monkeys (genus Alouatta) primarily serve to define and clarify the group’s territory. The males of the group call together at dawn and dusk, and whenever the troop moves to a new feeding ground (so basically, a lot). Surprisingly, having the most impressive voice does not mean a male’s…other qualities…are equally impressive. On the contrary, male howler monkeys with louder calls are invariably less well-endowed than their quieter counterparts. As far as female howlers are concerned, the “strong, silent type” is far more attractive (agreed).
Greater Bulldog Bat – 140 decibels
Weighing in at less than 100g (3oz), the greater bulldog bat (Noctilio leporinus) has a remarkably loud voice. The greater bulldog bat, also known as the fisherman bat, lives near water sources around Central and South America, as well as throughout the Caribbean island. Its proximity to water is necessary because the greater bulldog bat is one of the few bat species to have adapted to hunt fish. It uses its (very loud) echolocation to detect small fish during high tide, which it then scoops up in its stomach pouch and clings to with its claws.
Blue whale – 188 decibels
As the largest animal in existence, it’s not surprising that the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) has a pretty big voice (what is surprising is that there is any animal even louder). Measuring up to 100m (330ft) and weighing a colossal 200tons, these massive creatures can be found in oceans worldwide, though are endangered. The calls of the blue whale are louder than a jet engine and used to communicate with one another (no, they aren’t yelling at each other, they just live very far apart).
Tiger Pistol Shrimp – 210 decibels
Remarkably, the comparatively tiny tiger pistol shrimp is actually louder than a blue whale, a creature 75,000 times its size. It is not actually the voice of tiger pistol shrimps which produces so much noise (largely because they do not have voices), but rather their legs. The front right claw of this little shrimp has evolved to be much larger and stronger than the left. It uses this claw as a sonic weapon to stun the small fish and other shrimp on which it preys. The claw of the aptly named tiger pistol shrimp does indeed behave like a pistol. The shrimp opens its claw, aims and snaps it shut with such speed and force that it produces a bullet-like air bubble, travelling at over 100kph (60mph) towards its victim. Incredibly, as the air bubble collapses, it briefly gets as hot as the sun!
Sperm Whale – 236 decibels
And finally, officially the world’s loudest living thing, the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), which produces sounds so loud they can be heard some 20km (12.5mi) away. Sperm whales are vocal animals and produce a variety of different sounds, used both in communication and hunting. Like many cetaceans, sperm whales use echolocation to detect their prey, and there is speculation that they can even use sonic waves to stun or kill their prey, like the tiger mantis shrimp. Scientists have speculated that different populations of sperm whales have different dialects and even names for each other, though typically these types of sounds only carry over some 4km (still like chatting to your coworker with a megaphone).
Interestingly, the sperm whale gets its name (one which invariably elicits giggles from any teenage boy in earshot) from the fluid in its head, which was harvested for its use in oil lamps and candles until the early 20th century. Disappointed? Don’t be. This fluid is called “spermaceti”, which literally means “semen of the whale”, because early whale hunters mistook it for seminal fluid (because inside the head is a sensible place to find semen, obviously). Take that to your next science class, kids!