Nature’s Noisemakers

Do you need an apostrophe with that “s”?

Use an apostrophe to show possession. For a singular noun, the apostrophe goes before the “s” (Jason’s room). For a plural noun, it goes after the “s” (the boys’ room).

Do NOT use an apostrophe to form a plural (our three cats).

Little but Loud 

At just 2 inches long, the coqui [koh-KEE] frog is tiny. But the noise these little guys make is anything but tiny. Only the males/male’s/males’ sing, and their calls have been recorded at 100 decibels—about as loud as a chainsaw!

Coqui frogs are native to Puerto Rico, where they are beloved. In Puerto Rico, coquis are the inspiration for songs, toys, and children’s books.

In Hawaii, however, coquis are an invasive species. And because coquis have no predators there, the coqui population has exploded. Residents/Resident’s/Residents’ report many sleepless nights thanks to these nocturnal noisemakers, whose singing can last for hours.

A Booming Roar

The first time you hear a howler monkeys/monkey’s/monkeys’ call, you might find yourself looking around for a dragon. Despite their name, these monkeys make a sound that’s more of a roar than a howl. And it is so loud it can be heard up to 3 miles away. How do they do it? They have a bone in their throats that works like a microphone, amplifying their calls.

Though scientists are still learning about these very noisy primates/primate’s/primates’, they believe howler monkeys use their vocalizations to mark their territory and communicate with each other. Howler monkeys are most vocal at dawn and at dusk.

Underwater Rock Stars

The prize for largest animal on Earth goes to the blue whale, which can grow to the length of three school buses and weigh more than 150 tons. These enormous creatures are also among the loudest animals on the planet. The volume of their songs can reach 188 decibels—loud enough to drown out a jet engine.

Blue whales/whale’s/whales’ songs can travel hundreds of miles through the water. The whales sing to communicate with each other over long distances. They also use their songs to navigate: They listen for the echoes of their calls/call’s/calls’ bouncing off coastlines and underwater land formations, which allows them to form a mental map of the ocean.