ELECTROSENSORY ORGANISMS

Many aquatic animals have the ability to sense very weak electric fields. This electric sense is found in numerous species of marine and freshwater fish and in several amphibian species. Electrosensory abilities have also been reported in higher animals including the platypus and a semiaquatic mole.By detecting weak electric fields from animate or inanimate sources, many aquatic animals acquire information used for orientation, communication and other critical behavior. © 1994, American Institute of Physics. All rights reserved.