Which specialized sensory organ, concentrating gel-filled sacs around the snout, detects faint electrical signals generated by living creatures?
Answer
Ampullae of Lorenzini
The Ampullae of Lorenzini are crucial for the hunting prowess of the great white shark. These organs consist of thousands of specialized, gel-filled sacs located predominantly around the snout region. Their function is electroreception; they are exquisitely sensitive to the faint electrical fields produced by the muscle contractions and heartbeats of other organisms in the water. This ability works in conjunction with the lateral line system, which senses vibrations, ensuring the shark has a multi-faceted detection system that makes avoiding them in the water column exceptionally difficult for prey.
Related Questions
What is the scientific name for the great white shark, noted as the world's largest actively predatory fish?What key physical feature defines the great white's coloration strategy known as countershading?Which specialized sensory organ, concentrating gel-filled sacs around the snout, detects faint electrical signals generated by living creatures?What characteristic of the great white's teeth, which number around 300 total, operates like a conveyor belt system for replacement?What primary reproductive classification describes the great white shark, where eggs hatch internally and pups develop using nourishment from a yolk sac and uterine secretion?What structural feature of the great white's massive jaws allows for an impressive gape of up to 150 degrees during a strike?What evidence suggests that the evolution toward the great white's distinctive serrated teeth was driven by specific predation patterns?How do great white sharks resolve conflicts over food resources when aggregating, utilizing a specific form of body language?What threat level is assigned to the European and Mediterranean populations of the great white shark by the IUCN, which is a worse outlook than the global listing?What hypothesis attempts to explain why most unprovoked great white bites result in the shark immediately releasing the human victim?