Dolphins' Electrifying Superpower Unveiled
Originally Published 2 years ago — by New York Post
Bottlenose dolphins have been found to possess the ability to detect electric fields underwater, a skill known as electroreception. Researchers in Germany trained dolphins to swim away from a small underwater apparatus when they sensed a weak electric field, rewarding them with treats when they were correct. While not as sensitive as sharks, dolphins can use this skill to hunt prey, particularly in murky ocean environments. The dolphins in the study showed a detection threshold similar to other species like the platypus and Guiana dolphin. This ability may also enable dolphins to perceive the Earth's magnetic field through induction-based magnetoreception, aiding in large-scale orientation.