[Campbell Biology P.1180] The male oyster toadfish Opsanus tau is highlighted in the text for... | Practice Question

The male oyster toadfish Opsanus tau is highlighted in the text for its use of "superfast muscles" to produce its mating call. What remarkable characteristic of these muscles is mentioned?

  • A: They are exclusively slow-twitch oxidative fibers, enabling sustained calls.
  • B: They can contract and relax more than 200 times per second.
  • C: They are composed entirely of fast oxidative fibers that are highly resistant to fatigue.
  • D: They are primarily used for regulating body temperature, similar to muscles that produce a rattlesnake's rattle.

Explanation

The text states: 'Even faster are the muscles surrounding the gas-filled swim bladder of the male oyster toadfish Figure 50.34 . In producing its "boat whistle" mating call, the toadfish can contract and relax these muscles more than 200 times per second!' This directly provides option B as the correct characteristic.