Senses help navigate during migration: European eel

European eels navigate during long migrations by being sensitive to many different types of stimuli.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Process information >
	Navigate >
	Through water

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Multi-sensitive devices to aid in siting of marine installations

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Those specimens that do complete their life cycle use many environmental cues to navigate during their migration. Not only are eels highly sensitive to olfactory stimuli, they also respond readily to small fluctuations in water movements, seismic activity, and even to the minute electrical fields generated by water currents." (Shuker 2001:74-75)

About the inspiring organism

River eel
Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758)
[Freshwater eel, European eel, Eel, Common eel, Silver eel, Sing eel, Weed eel, Yellow eel]

IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
Habitat(s): Marine Neritic, Marine Oceanic, Wetlands

Some organism data provided by: FishBase
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Multi-sensitive devices to aid in siting of marine installations.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Marine navigation, marine exploration and siting

References

Shuker, KPN. 2001. The Hidden Powers of Animals: Uncovering the Secrets of Nature. London: Marshall Editions Ltd. 240 p.

Senses help navigate during migration: European eel

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