Sharks have a particular sense that enables them to be able to feel an electrical field that comes from its prey. What is this sense called?

headshooter

Electroreception http://www.elasmodiver.com/shark_senses.htm Apr 11 08, 6:49 PM

HeavensArrow

I knew they had a great sense of smell and when I saw this question and then the answer about electroreception, just had to look it up and it has some very interesting facts about how it works. Enjoy. Touching a Shark's Nose Shark tour guide Andre Hartman demonstrates to the team that a gentle hand on the snout is enough to overwhelm the shark's powerful electroreceptors and send it into a momentary coma-like state. This ability, called electroreception, originates in clusters of pores scattered around the shark's head. The pores form different patterns - called long trails, V shapes or ovals - in different shark species and in different areas of the head. Inside these pores are small cells, called ampullae of Lorenzini, which are filled with a gel-like substance that can conduct electricity. Each cell also has a tiny hair within it. When a charge goes through the gel, it also passes through the hair, which triggers a sensory signal. Researchers have also found that the gel can translate minute temperature variations - which might be caused by potential prey - into electrical signals, making each ampulla not only a conductor of electricity but also a sort of thermostat. http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/episodes/sharks/indepth-senses.html Apr 11 08, 7:23 PM