8 Senses That Animals Possess but Humans Don’t

27 FEB 2024

Credit: Google Images

Credit: Google Images

Magnetic Field Sensors

We may not be able to tell what direction we are facing just like that, but a diverse range of animals —  sea turtles, worms, some birds, wolves and even butterflies can! All these mentioned animals have one thing in common - the Magnetic Field sense.

Credit: Google Images

Detection of Electric Fields

A sense specific to predatory animals, the detection of electric fields is prevalent in sharks, skates, and even rays. Ampullae of Lorenzini, a network of organs, generates this sense. The organs are located in and around the head deep within thick skin and consists of a jelly-filled pore causing to a bundle of electrical sensors.

Credit: Google Images

Sensing Nutrients

One sense we should envy the White-Crowned Sparrows and Deer for! These animals possess the ability to sense whether their food has or doesn’t have the nutrients their body needs. They typically crave for food containing amino acids. These acids are typically the ones that their body can’t naturally produce.

Credit: Google Images

Magnified Taste

Literally, if you could imagine a tongue swimming, you would be imagining a Catfish right, anatomically! Not just internally, but the catfish, possesses tastebuds even externally; wrapped in over 100,000 tastebuds, this animal can detect the flavours of its potential prey from all directions!

Credit: Google Images

Abdomens With Paramagnetic Iron Oxide

You know you have worked really hard for the day when you can’t find your way back home — well, at least the Worker Honeybees would agree. These species find their way back home thanks to the sense that they derive from the paramagnetic iron oxide in their abdomens.

Credit: Google Images

Detection of Infrared Radiation

With the earth more susceptible to forest fires than ever today, we may not be living our safest times. Sure, taking precautions is one thing but imagine having the ability to actually sense the onset of a fire; the Jewel Beetles can.

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Tetrachromacy

One of the greatest senses that we human are grateful for every day is that of sight - a sense that allows us to experience the beauty of life, with all its colours. Did you know why we see the colours we do? It is because of the three independent channels that we possess; channels that convey colour information.

Credit: Google Images

Smelling Exhaled Carbon Dioxide

Doesn’t it sometimes take us by surprise the way mosquitoes manage to find us every single time?! Ever wondered how? Well, of the many factors, one is their sense to smell exhaled carbon dioxide.