In Total Darkness, the Frilled Shark Relies on Sensory Detection Over Sight

This shark hunts without depending on vision at all.

Top Ad Slot
🤯 Did You Know (click to read)

Many shark species possess ampullae of Lorenzini, specialized organs that detect electrical fields in water.

At bathyal depths where sunlight never penetrates, the frilled shark relies heavily on mechanoreception and possibly electroreception to detect prey movements. Visual cues are limited or absent in its environment.

Mid-Content Ad Slot
💥 Impact (click to read)

Without daylight or horizon, hunting becomes a matter of sensing minute pressure changes and electrical signals emitted by other organisms. A flick of a squid’s mantle can trigger an ambush.

This sensory reliance illustrates how life can reorganize around entirely different primary inputs. In the abyss, touch and vibration replace sight as the dominant navigational tools.

Source

Smithsonian Ocean

LinkedIn Reddit

⚡ Ready for another mind-blower?

‹ Previous Next ›

💬 Comments