The platypus bill is lined with electroreceptors that detect electrical signals generated by the muscle contractions of prey. This allows them to hunt with eyes, ears, and nostrils closed underwater. Even tiny movements of insects or crustaceans can be sensed. Electroreception compensates for poor visibility in murky rivers. Juveniles gradually refine this skill to improve foraging success. It is one of the most sophisticated sensory adaptations in mammals. This makes platypuses highly effective nocturnal hunters.
Electroreception increases hunting efficiency in low-visibility waters.
It allows detection of prey that other predators might miss.
Platypuses locate prey using electrical signals from muscle movement.
Australian Museum (australian.museum)