Which specialized electroreceptors do zebra sharks use to detect faint electrical fields from buried prey?
Answer
Ampullae of Lorenzini.
Zebra sharks are primarily nocturnal feeders, meaning they must rely heavily on senses other than sight when foraging during the dark hours. To overcome the limitations of low light or turbid conditions typical of the seafloor environment, they possess highly specialized sensory organs. These critical organs are the Ampullae of Lorenzini, which function as electroreceptors. These specialized structures, distributed around the snout and head region, allow the shark to detect the minute electrical fields naturally generated by the muscle movements of potential prey, such as crabs or mollusks that might be hidden beneath the sand or tucked securely within rock crevices.
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