Organs detect electrical currents: great white shark

1 of 1 Great white shark / Terry Goss / License

The snout of a great white shark detects minute electrical currents produced by prey using electrosensitive organs called ampullae of Lorenzini.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Process information >
	Sense signals/environmental cues >
	Electricity/magnetism

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Safety mechanisms for electromagnetic devices.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Even sightless, the shark is nevertheless still being guided toward its victim by its sensory armory -- by now the shark's electrical sense is operating. Beneath the skin in its snout are numerous tiny, electrosensitive organs known as ampullae of Lorenzini, each linked to the outside world by an external pore. They detect the minute electrical fields produced by the shark's victim and permit the shark to home in on its prey, and to aim with devastating accuracy its first but generally lethal bite." (Shuker 2001:40)

About the inspiring organism

Maneater shark
Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758)
[Great white shark, Man eater, Maneater, Man-eater, Man-eater shark, Mango-taniwha, Mango-ururoa, Shark, White death, White pointer, White shark]

IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Habitat(s): Marine Neritic, Marine Oceanic

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: Safety mechanisms for electromagnetic devices.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Medical, communication, industrial engineering

References

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

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Comments

Thanks to Duarte Miguel Prazeres for finding and uploading this photo.

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