What Does Electroreception Mean?

Electroreception or electroception is the biological ability to perceive natural electrical stimuli. It has been observed almost exclusively in aquatic or amphibious animals since water is a much better conductor of electricity than air. The known exceptions are the monotremes , cockroaches, and bees.

What is shark electroreception?

Rather than hone in on their prey using their eyes, sharks are armed with a 'sixth sense' called electroreception. ... They actively detect the electrical currents of other organisms, which travel through the water and are processed by the shark's brain in the form of neurotransmitters.

Why do sharks use electroreception?

The electroreceptors (known as ampullae of Lorenzini) are jelly-filled tubes that open on the surface of sharks' skin. ... Electroreceptors are most often used to capture prey, by the detection of electrical fields generated by the prey. For example, this allows sharks to find prey hidden in the sand.