Already equipped with an impressive sonar system, new research reveals that dolphins have an extra ability that evolves as they mature - in the space where their baby whiskers once were.
Dolphins' sonar ability, known as echolocation, is fairly legendary in the animal kingdom. This ability is so accurate that the mammals can use it to distinguish between a golf ball and a ping-pong ball underwater based on the densities of the two objects. But that's not where the creatures' impressive abilities end.
They also have eyes that allow them to see in two directions at once; skin that secretes an antibacterial gel to ward off parasites and barnacles; they can get enough thrust to reach 30 mph; and they turn off half their brains at a time in order to get rest. Now, a new study out of the University of Rostock in Germany adds another impressive skill to the dolphin's roster of powers: the ability to sense weak electric fields.
"The sensitivity to weak electric fields helps a dolphin search for fish hidden in sediment over the last few centimeters before snapping them up," said study co-author Guido Dehnhardt.
The researchers also believe that the ability, known as electroreception, could help dolphins navigate using the earth's magnetic field and that it may explain occasional beach stranding of the animals due to fluctuations in this field.
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