[Campbell Biology P.1187] Metal objects can cause sharks to misdirect their bites, and sharks... | Practice Question

Metal objects can cause sharks to misdirect their bites, and sharks can find buried batteries. These facts suggest that sharks track their prey using a sensory ability analogous to which other animal's prey detection method?

  • A: A rattlesnake finding a mouse in its burrow.
  • B: An insect avoiding being stepped on.
  • C: A star-nosed mole locating its prey in tunnels.
  • D: A platypus locating its prey in a muddy river.

Explanation

Sharks possess highly sensitive electroreceptors ampullae of Lorenzini that allow them to detect the weak electrical fields generated by muscle contractions of prey, even when buried in sand. Similarly, platypuses use electroreceptors in their bill to locate aquatic prey in murky environments where vision is limited.