{"id":42128,"date":"2025-06-26T16:14:35","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T20:14:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oceana.org\/?p=42128"},"modified":"2025-10-16T13:41:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T17:41:35","slug":"sharks-have-a-sixth-sense-and-its-electrifying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oceana.org\/blog\/sharks-have-a-sixth-sense-and-its-electrifying\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharks Have a Sixth Sense\u2014and It’s Electrifying"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sharks don\u2019t just rule the ocean with speed and strength\u2014they also come equipped with an incredible hidden ability: a sixth sense that helps them detect electromagnetic fields in water.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This built-in superpower is thanks to tiny gel-filled canals on their snouts called ampullae of Lorenzini. These special organs can detect the faint electric fields produced by other animals\u2014basically allowing sharks to sense their prey without seeing or hearing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AN ELECTRIFYING SIXTH SENSE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This electrifying sixth sense is especially useful for hunting. Prey, like stingrays, sometimes try to hide by burying themselves in sand and staying perfectly still. But even the sneakiest fish give off a tiny electric signature when their heart beats, they breathe or move, giving them away! And this is just one part of a shark\u2019s sensory toolkit. Like all fish,\u00a0sharks also have a lateral line that allows them to pick up subtle vibrations in the water. These systems, combined with a shark\u2019s keen sense of smell, make it very hard for prey to avoid detection. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharks also use their ampullae of Lorenzini to help navigate. Scientists believe that they can detect the electric fields they induce while swimming through the Earth\u2019s magnetic field\u2014acting like a built-in compass as they travel the ocean.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PREDATORS IN TROUBLE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite their incredible adaptations, many shark species are now in serious trouble. Overfishing, accidental capture in fishing gear (known as bycatch), and the global shark fin trade<\/a> are pushing many shark species toward extinction. <\/sup>In fact, overfishing has contributed to a decline of oceanic shark and ray populations by more than 70% over the last 50 years.<\/a> That\u2018s bad news for our oceans, since sharks play a very important role in keeping our oceans in balance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oceana is campaigning to stop this decline. We’re taking action to end the cruel and wasteful global trade in shark fins, meat, and other products. We’re also advocating for stronger fisheries management to reduce overfishing<\/a> and the number of sharks killed as bycatch<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOW YOU CAN HELP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These apex predators may have a sixth sense, but they still need our common sense\u2014and action\u2014to survive. You can join Oceana in standing up for sharks.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add your name<\/a> to call for stronger protections for sharks.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shop the Oceana online store and make a symbolic adoption<\/a> today.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sharks don\u2019t just rule the ocean with speed and strength\u2014they also come equipped with an incredible hidden ability: a sixth sense that helps them detect electromagnetic fields in water.\u00a0 This built-in superpower is thanks to tiny gel-filled canals on their snouts called ampullae of Lorenzini. These special organs can detect the faint electric fields produced … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":571,"featured_media":42129,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"location":[],"expedition":[],"campaign":[198],"ppma_author":[387],"class_list":["post-42128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","campaign-sharks","infinite-scroll-item"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSharks Have a Sixth Sense\u2014and It's Electrifying | Oceana<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sharks have an electrifying sixth sense that helps them hunt. 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