What specialized sensory organs aid the zebra shark in locating bottom-dwelling prey?
Answer
Barbels
The zebra shark possesses specialized sensory organs located just in front of its small, blunt snout, known as barbels. These whisker-like structures serve a crucial function in locating food, especially when the shark is foraging in dark or murky water conditions common on the sea floor. This sensory input is integral to their specialized nocturnal foraging strategy, allowing them to detect hidden prey, which primarily consists of bottom-dwelling mollusks and crustaceans, even when visual cues are unavailable.
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