It's Alive Animals

Melatonin makes midshipman fish sing

Hormone that lulls people to sleep signals underwater fish flirting

Midshipman fish

MMM MELATONIN A humming midshipman male (second from left) and a female are surrounded by two smaller sneaky males and a brood of wispy white larvae.

Margaret Marchaterre/Cornell University

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

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For widemouthed, musical midshipman fish, melatonin is not a sleep hormone — it’s a serenade starter.