February 24, 2026, 12:39 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Who makes hissing sounds, sprays water from their nose, and creates air bubbles to impress females?
To sit once in Günther Jauch’s studio for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” and have the chance to win a whopping 1 million euros. For Maximilian Sonntag, it was almost within reach, but just almost. Not only he but also his phone-a-friend failed on the animal-related 64,000-euro question during the show on Feb. 23, 2026. Would you have cracked the question?
Sonntag had “perfect joker luck” on three previous questions, according to Jauch: He relied on his jokers three times in a row. Each time, his own answer would have been wrong, but thanks to the jokers, he got suspiciously close to the 1-million-euro question. If it weren’t for the 64,000-euro question, which was:
Who makes hissing sounds, sprays water from their nose, and creates air bubbles to impress females?
A: Sperm whale
B: Tiger shark
C: Saltwater crocodile
D: Bald eagle
Phone-a-Friend Couldn’t Help
While Günther Jauch imitates the hissing sounds of the sought-after animal, Sonntag ponders after his phone-a-friend couldn’t help either. Attentive PETBOOK readers might now lean back, casually fold their arms behind their heads, and confidently answer the question correctly, right? The answer is, of course, C: Saltwater crocodile, or as Günther Jauch said: “It’s a kind of love language of the saltwater crocodiles.”
Animal Question: Would You Have Won the €64,000 on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”
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Love Is in the Air–and in the Water of Saltwater Crocodiles
Romance à la saltwater crocodile might sound unflattering at first—but it’s quite clever. During mating season, the males put on an impressive courtship display: They emit distinctive hissing sounds, shoot water like a small geyser from their noses, and produce noticeable air bubbles on the surface. Some specimens additionally drum their heads on the water. In short: lots of show, lots of sound, lots of splashing, or as Günther Jauch says: “The full program.”
And it works. Researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast observed that these water fountains and sounds are part of the courtship behavior—and apparently impress the females. While the females themselves tend to growl, such as when guarding their nests, the males take on the acoustic and visual staging. An animal “love language” that works.1,2,3
When Love Helps Conservation
However, the study results not only show how cleverly crocodiles woo their partners. They also provide important insights into how complex the social life of these animals truly is. Researchers now believe that saltwater crocodiles interact more with each other and are more sensitive to changes in their environment than previously thought.
This is crucial for conservation. If an animal is removed from an area or relocated, it can disrupt existing structures. The better researchers understand communication and behavior patterns, the more targeted management and protection measures can be planned.