A New Remarkable Ability Found in Dolphins
Research indicates that in addition to their impressive sonar system, dolphins develop an extra sensory ability in the region where their baby whiskers once existed as they mature. This newfound sense may assist them in navigation and locating concealed food sources.
The echolocation capability of dolphins, often referred to as their sonar ability, is renowned in the animal kingdom. This accuracy is so remarkable that these marine mammals, categorized as whales, can discern between a golf ball and a ping-pong ball underwater by assessing the densities of the two objects. However, their remarkable abilities don’t stop there.
They also possess eyes that enable them to see in two directions simultaneously, skin capable of secreting an antibacterial gel for protection against parasites and barnacles, the ability to achieve speeds of up to 30 mph, and the unique capability of resting by turning off half of their brains at a time. A 2019 study highlighted their extraordinary immune systems, providing immunity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In a recent study from the University of Rostock in Germany, dolphins showcase yet another remarkable skill: the ability to sense weak electric fields.
Small Pits Left by Shedding Whiskers in Young Bottlenose Dolphins Resemble Structures Used by Sharks for Electrical Field Detection
Examining the small pits left after young bottlenose dolphins shed their initial whiskers, the researchers noticed similarities with structures that enable sharks to detect electrical fields.
They trained two dolphins at the Nuremberg Zoo to recognize and respond when exposed to an electrical current just above their snouts. One dolphin demonstrated the ability to sense signals as low as 5.5 microvolts/cm, while the other displayed even greater sensitivity, detecting a current measuring 2.4 microvolts/cm. The responsiveness of the dolphins to pulsed electrical currents, resembling those emitted by the fish they prey upon, suggests their adaptation to hunting hidden fish in sediment. Unlike sharks, which can detect fish electrical fields up to 70 cm away, dolphins use their sensitivity to locate fish in the last few centimeters before capturing them, as explained by study co-author Guido Dehnhardt.
Additionally, the scientists posit that the electroreception ability, possessed by dolphins, may aid in their navigation using the Earth’s magnetic field. They suggest that this capability could also account for occasional instances of dolphins getting stranded on beaches, possibly linked to fluctuations in the Earth’s magnetic field.
Read the original article on: New Atlas
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