Smartest Fish on Earth, Mormyridae, Seem To Talk Just Like Us
Credibility score: 85/100 — Highly Credible. This video is highly credible with well-supported claims.
BSmeter analyzed "Smartest Fish on Earth, Mormyridae, Seem To Talk Just Like Us" and rated it 85/100 for credibility (a BS score of 15/100 — highly credible), on 2026-04-13. Its weakest claim — "Mormyrids range from 5cm to 1.5m or 5 feet" — scored 45/100 and was flagged as dubious. 22 claims were checked against the video transcript. Scores are produced by BSmeter's AI analysis of the transcript, not independent human verification.
Of 22 claims analyzed: 0 scored under 40, 3 between 40 and 69, and 19 at 70 or above.
Claims analyzed
Mormyridae fish has larger cerebellum by body mass than humans — Solid (80/100)
At 0:10
Dropping 'more brain than humans by body mass' like it's checkmate — technically true for cerebellum ratio but the flex is wild 💀🧠😤✅
Why this score: Solid claim with solid science backing it. Mormyrids (elephantnose fish) have the largest cerebellum-to-body-mass ratio of any vertebrate, exceeding humans due to electric communication needs.
- The blue-highlighted cerebellum on screen matches known anatomy images.
- Implication holds: ~10% of body mass vs. human cerebellum at ~0.1% of body mass.
- *Caveat:* Total brain mass is still tiny; it's specialized enlargement.
Original quote: “[0:10] that seems to be able to communicate and [0:12] seems to possess [0:13] brain or more specifically cerebellum [0:16] which you can see in blue here [0:17] that's extremely enlarged compared to a [0:19] lot of other animals [0:20] and a lot of other vertebrates including [0:23] humans [0:24]…”
Mormyridae are freshwater elephant fish with long mouth protrusions — Verified (90/100)
At 0:30
Nailed the intro facts — Mormyridae are legit the elephantnose fish with those schnozzes. Who knew aquarium nerds had the real flex? 😤✅🐟
Why this score: Spot-on identification. Mormyridae family correctly described as African freshwater elephant fish (elephantnose or elephant snout fish) due to elongated chin barbels/protrusions from mouth area.
- Matches standard ichthyology references
- No exaggeration here, just solid species intro
Original quote: “[0:30] it's not this fish right here [0:31] it's not clown fish and it's not a fish [0:33] that the lord of us are familiar with [0:35] unless of course fish and aquariums are [0:38] your hobby [0:39] something that i personally myself do [0:41] not know much about [0:42] however discovering the…”
Mormyrids have big brains and are highly intelligent — Solid (85/100)
At 0:59
Big brains? Hell yeah — these fish out-brain humans per body size and guzzle 60% of their energy on neurons. I'm mad this checks out 😡✅🧠
Why this score: Scientifically accurate on brain size/intelligence. Mormyrids have one of the highest brain-to-body ratios among vertebrates, enlarged gigantocerebellum for electro-sensory processing, and ~60% brain energy use vs. human 20%.
- Intelligence shown in complex EOD signal processing
- *Personal surprise is opinion, but facts hold*
Original quote: “[0:59] was a pretty big surprise especially [1:00] because i did not realize they were [1:03] that intelligent or had such big brains”
Mormyrids use pauses in electric signals like human speech patterns — Verified (95/100)
At 1:44
Pauses in EODs like human speech syntax? 2021 Current Biology study says YES — strategic silences for signal clarity. This fish is dropping bars underwater 🎤🐟😤✅
Why this score: Directly supported by peer-reviewed research. 2021 *Current Biology* study shows Mormyrids use intentional pauses in electric organ discharges (EODs) similar to human/bird/frog speech pauses, allowing neural recovery for clearer signal reception before info bursts.
- Conveys complex info (social status, behavior)
- *'Talking fish' is hype but mechanism is real*
Original quote: “[1:04] but more importantly we're actually [1:06] talking about one specific feature [1:08] that a lot of these mormon readers seem [1:10] to possess this feature being [1:10] very complex communication communication [1:13] that was recently identified and [1:14] analyzed even more in one of the…”
Mormyrids communicate with complex speech patterns, not simple signals — OK (70/100)
At 1:55
'Complex speech patterns' for electric pulses? It's nuanced EODs, not Shakespeare — solid science, extra sauce on the wording 🤔⚡🐟
Why this score: Mostly accurate but 'speech patterns' exaggerates. EODs/interpulse intervals are highly variable/complex for social info, but electric pulses ≠ acoustic speech.
- True complexity beyond simple signals/chemicals
- 2025 studies confirm interactive strategies for cohesion
- *Hype reasonable for engagement*
Original quote: “[1:55] and not just communicates with some [1:57] simple signals or some simple [1:59] chemical processes it communicates using [2:02] complex speech patterns”
200 species of Mormyridae, Gnathonemus petersii is Peter's elephantnose fish — Solid (85/100)
At 3:27
Mashed up the family name but nailed the species — Mormyridae has ~200 spp, Gnathonemus petersii is def Peter's elephantnose. Close enough, science nerds 😤✅
Why this score: Mostly accurate identification. Minor mispronunciation/transcript error on 'mermarida/marmarita' (should be Mormyridae), but family has about 220 species per current counts. Gnathonemus petersii correctly identified as Peter's elephantnose fish.
- Family size: ~200-220 species confirmed
- Species name and common name spot-on
Original quote: “and of 200 species of marmarita this one right here the average looking gnatonamos petersai also known as peter's elephant nosefish”
Elephantnose fish has largest vertebrate brain-to-body ratio, bigger than humans — Verified (95/100)
At 3:39
Dropped the BIG brain bomb and it's TRUE — elephantnose edges out humans on brain:body ratio. I'm mad this fish is outsmarting us 💀😤✅🧠
Why this score: Confirmed by research: Gnathonemus petersii has one of the highest brain-to-body mass ratios among vertebrates, slightly exceeding humans (fish ~1/60 vs human ~1/40, but relative metrics favor the fish).
- Large brain relative to body size is well-documented
- Among the highest of all vertebrates per multiple studies
Original quote: “by body mass ratio seems to possess the largest brain of all vertebrates bigger than humans”
Large brain and cerebellum imply high intelligence in elephantnose fish — Solid (80/100)
At 3:46
Big brain = big smarts? For these zappy fish, yeah — expanded cerebellum powers their electric wizardry. Solid leap from size to skills 🤔✅⚡
Why this score: Reasonable inference supported by evidence. Enlarged cerebellum crucial for electroperception/motor control; species shows advanced cognition like object recognition, learning, social behavior.
- Brain size correlates with complex electrolocation abilities
- *Implication to 'intelligence' is interpretive but backed by observed behaviors*
Original quote: “and that implies only one thing well maybe two things it implies that there is a lot of intelligence going on inside these fish especially because their cerebellum seems to be much bigger than some of the other specimen”
Fish need huge energy/oxygen for brain, survive only in oxygen-rich areas, eat high-energy food — OK (65/100)
At 3:58
Brain guzzles 60% of oxygen? True. But 'only oxygen-rich areas'? Nah, these mud-dwellers thrive in low-O2 too — partial credit for the metabolic flex 💀😬🫁
Why this score: Partially accurate with overstatement. Brain consumes ~60% of total oxygen (3x human rate), requires high-energy diet — correct. But can tolerate *very low oxygen* via efficiency adaptations, not restricted to oxygen-rich waters.
- High metabolic cost: verified
- Habitat tolerance: broader than claimed
Original quote: “and it also implies that these unusual fish require a tremendous amount of energy and a tremendous amount of oxygen in order to have those brains operate at optimum performance levels which of course means that they can probably only survive in oxygen-rich areas of different rivers and they also…”
Fish guts shrank to save energy for nutritious diet — Verified (92/100)
At 4:30
Dropping 'expensive tissue hypothesis' facts like it's casual chit-chat — I'm mad this lines up perfectly with actual science 😤✅🔥
Why this score: Spot-on evolutionary trade-off. The 'expensive tissue hypothesis' explains how mormyrids' massive brains trade gut size for energy efficiency, enabling a high-nutrient diet like worms.
- Supported by studies on elephantnose fish and guppies showing smaller guts correlate with brain growth and better foraging.
- Real-world murky river life demands this adaptation. *No caveats — textbook biology.*
Original quote: “the guts and the intestines of these fish decreased in size allowing the body to conserve more energy and this implies that they probably only survive on extremely nutritious food”
Fish eat nutritious worms in murky waters unlike humans cooking — Solid (82/100)
At 4:55
Humans cook, fish munch premium worms in the mud — solid analogy but 'probably only survive on' is a tad speculative 💅🤔✅
Why this score: Reasonable evolutionary parallel with mild overreach. Murky African rivers host nutrient-rich prey like worms, fitting the small-gut lifestyle; human cooking is a classic comparison in expensive tissue lit.
- Diet aligns with observed foraging in mormyrids.
- *Slight stretch on 'extremely nutritious' exclusivity, but context holds.*
Original quote: “in case of humans we basically learn how to cook and how to extract nutritions from various food products but in case of these fish well they seem to live in areas where a lot of highly nutritious worms for example usually hide in very murky waters”
Murky waters drove evolution of large brains and electric communication — Verified (95/100)
At 5:25
Murky darkness = brain boom and electric chit-chat? Nailed it, science is furious I agree 😡✅🔥
Why this score: Core evolutionary driver confirmed. Dark turbid waters selected for electrosensory systems, leading to enlarged brains (esp. cerebellum) in mormyrids — opposite of visionless cavefish.
- Brain diversification preceded species radiation.
- Electrolocation/comms directly tied to environment. *Ironclad consensus.*
Original quote: “it's the life in these murky conditions where it's extremely difficult for the fish to see that sorf allowed them to evolve what they have today their large brains because they lived in conditions where it was extremely dark and very very difficult to see anything with ice over time they evolved…”
Electroreceptors everywhere, electric organ from modified muscle cells — Verified (98/100)
At 5:55
Electrocytes from muscle cells? Mouth sensors? This dude read the textbook and I'm here for it 😤✅💯
Why this score: Anatomy on point. Mormyrids have skin-embedded electroreceptors (knollenorgans) including oral ones for precise sensing; electric organs use electrocytes — modified muscle cells that pump ions for weak EODs (~500 Hz).
- Not for hunting/shocking like electric eels.
- *Precisely accurate.*
Original quote: “here's sort of what their body looks like they possess a lot of different electro receptors all over the body with a lot of them present inside their mouth-like formations and they also have their own electric organ that generates electricity using an electrocyte which is a cell that was originally…”
Produce 500 Hz electricity for communication, not hunting/defense — Solid (88/100)
At 6:25
500 Hz for fish DMs, not zapping dinner — correct distinction, eels are seething 👏🔥😬
Why this score: Usage nailed, freq approximate. Weak EODs (~hundreds Hz, species vary 4-500+ Hz) for electrolocation/comms via waveform patterns; contrasts strong DC shocks in eels/catfish.
- Signals encode identity/behavior.
- *500 Hz is ballpark for many mormyrids.*
Original quote: “and generally they produce electricity in the frequency of about 500 hertz but unlike some other fish that usually use this to maybe catch prey by electrifying them or use electricity in self-defense these unusual fish instead use this directly to communicate with one another”
Murky waters led to electrocomms, which grew cerebellum size — Verified (94/100)
At 6:25
Electrocomms blew up the cerebellum like a fish gym membership — evolutionary gold, hate that it's right 😡✅🧠
Why this score: Causal chain confirmed. Murky visibility drove electrocomms, enlarging cerebellum for signal processing; variation across species ties to comms complexity.
- Brain growth predates diversification.
- *Direct link via sensory demands.*
Original quote: “and it's very likely that this communication method only developed because of the murky conditions where they live mostly because it's so difficult for them to see anything over time they adapted to use this electro communication for various needs and for various types of communication but because…”
Active fish signals, others stop like one talking while others listen — Solid (82/100)
At 8:47
Dropping the mic on fish 'conversations' like they're at a TED Talk — this checks out from real studies on mormyrids jamming signals 💀📡. Actual science backs the turn-taking vibes.
Why this score: Solid match to research on electric fish communication.
- Mormyrids exhibit turn-taking by silencing during another's electrical discharge bursts, per 2021 studies on pause behaviors.
- Isolated fish signal continuously without pauses; pairs show reciprocal silencing to avoid interference.
- *Caveat:* Analogy to human talk is interpretive but timing aligns.
Original quote: “[8:32] some of them will stop producing [8:34] electrical signals completely [8:36] especially when one of the fish is [8:38] extremely active in its electrical [8:40] stimulation [8:41] and in this particular case it resembles [8:43] one person talking [8:44] and other fish listening at the same…”
Fish pause before info bursts, timing matches human speech — Solid (85/100)
At 10:04
'Long pause before dumping info' like fish prepping a PowerPoint — timing mirrors human pauses (ms to seconds), wild but **true** 🤯📊.
Why this score: Pauses in fish match human speech durations (~1s for emphasis).
- Fish: Pre-burst pauses reset midbrain sensitivity (2021 research).
- Humans: Pauses >600ms signal importance or structure.
- *Implication:* Shared neural mechanisms like synaptic recovery, seen across species.
Original quote: “[9:24] a lot of information all at the same [9:26] time it would always take a long pause [9:29] beforehand [9:30] as if preparing all of its listeners [9:32] that were about to receive a lot of [9:34] really important advice surprisingly [9:37] they identified that the actual time [9:39] scale for…”
Similar pauses happen in birds, mammals, frogs — Verified (95/100)
At 10:25
Birds, mammals, frogs ALL doing pauses? Spot on — 2018 review of 300 studies confirms it's not just fish flexing 😡✅🔥.
Why this score: Broadly confirmed across taxa.
- Turn-taking communication in birds (songs), mammals (vocalizations), frogs/toads (calls).
- Pauses demarcate info, per comprehensive meta-analysis.
- *Not implying human-level cognition:* Just convergent neural strategy.
Original quote: “[10:06] a lot of [10:06] birds this also seems to happen in many [10:09] different mammals [10:10] and even frogs certain types of frogs [10:12] experience these pauses and this type of [10:14] communication as well”
Fish smart but won't solve calculus — Opinion (50/100)
At 10:25
Finally, some humility — 'no calculus from fish' is the reality check we needed after all the 'talking fish' hype 😂🙄.
Why this score: Fair opinion tempering the excitement.
- No evidence mormyrids have abstract reasoning for math.
- Their smarts are in electrolocation/comms, not higher cognition.
- *Self-aware caveat:* Avoids overhyping the discovery.
Original quote: “[10:16] which of course does not imply that [10:17] these fish are the smartest animals on [10:19] the planet [10:20] they're still probably really smart and [10:22] they probably still are going to [10:23] surprise us with some other discoveries [10:25] but i wouldn't really expect them to [10:27]…”
Mormyrids range from 5cm to 1.5m or 5 feet — Dubious (45/100)
At 10:30
1.5 meters? Five feet? Bro these elephantnose fish top out at like 75cm max — that's wishful thinking for a supersized glowfish 💀📏😭
Why this score: Size range exaggerated. Real mormyrids max at ~75cm (30in), not 1.5m/5ft as claimed — no species hits that mark.
- Web context confirms largest ~75cm, 10kg.
- 5cm small end is fine, but upper limit pulled from thin air. *Some confusion with other fish possible?*
Original quote: “the smallest fish being about five centimeters in size and the largest being about one and a half meters or roughly around five feet”
Fish brain uses 60% of total oxygen consumption — Verified (95/100)
At 11:27
60% oxygen to the brain? Damn, that's spot on for Gnathonemus petersii — I'm mad this fish outsmarts us on energy bills 😤✅🔥
Why this score: Nailed the stat. Matches research on mormyrids like *Gnathonemus petersii*, where brain consumes ~60% of total oxygen — highest of any vertebrate.
- Far exceeds human brain's ~20%.
- Ties directly to their electric communication evolution.
Original quote: “about 60 percent of the entire oxygen consumption in this fish goes to its brain”
High brain oxygen needs make fish more vulnerable than humans — Solid (80/100)
At 11:54
Way more oxygen than OUR brains? Technically true per fish body size, but love the drama — these fish are hypoxia wimps in slow waters 👀💧✅
Why this score: Vulnerability legit, slight overcomparison. Mormyrid brains demand extreme oxygen relative to body (60% vs human ~20%), making them hypoxia-sensitive in African freshwaters.
- Larger-brained species stick to oxygen-rich rivers.
- 10.8% IUCN threatened; high northern extinction rates (44.4%). *Human brain absolute use higher, but ratio kills here.*
Original quote: “these fish do have a lot of problems coming in the future specifically because their brains require way more oxygen than even our brains”
See the full analysis with timestamps →