Page 251 - (DK) I Can’t Believe It! 2

IT CAN’T BE TRUE! 249

FAST FACTS

The loudest noise Tiger pistol shrimp Scientists researching cicadas
in the animal 200 dB found the bigger the insect, the
kingdom is made Blue whale song louder the noise. Most cicada
188 dB
by the tiger pistol species are 1–2 in (2–5 cm) long in
shrimp. This is not Damages hearing the body, but the Empress cicada of
a vocal sound, but 140 dB Painful to humans Southeast Asia is 2¾ in (7 cm) long,
the snapping of its African cicada 120 dB so its call could be even louder.
claws. Blue whales 107.5 dB
also produce a loud Person speaking
noise, almost twice 60 dB
as loud as the Person whispering
African cicada’s call. 30 dB
Edge of hearing
0 dB African cicada Empress cicada

Male cicadas make their deafening calls using
two organs called tymbals, which are made up
of a membrane stretched over ribs. The tymbal
The African makes a clicking sound when the cicada contracts
cicada’s call (squeezes) it and when it relaxes it. A cicada can
is louder than produce 300–400 clicks every second.
a helicopter.

Four transparent wings
are folded up when the
cicada is not in flight.

A male cicada has a tymbal
on each side of its abdomen.
The clicking sound is
amplified (made louder) by
the insect’s hollow body.

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