Amazing Facts : Sharks Can Smell a Drop of Blood in 100 Liters of Water
Sharks Can Smell a Drop of Blood in 100 Liters of Water – The Truth Behind Their Super Sense
Have you ever considered how bloody fish are found by sharks in the open waters? A shark’s nose is so sensitive that it can ‘smell’ one drop of blood out of 100 litres of water. It may sound like a myth, but it is backed by research.
Sharks Have a Super Nose
Just like with other predators in the animal kingdom, shark vision is not reliable in the deep, dark, or murky open waters. It is in these conditions where predators take advantage of other senses. Sharks use the special organs in their snouts to detect waterborne scents.
Sharks have special organs called nares or nostrils, and blood is ‘smelled’ in extremely low concentrations from afar. When water flows in and out of a shark nares, it passes over the olfactory bulbs which are full of sensors. These sensors can detect chemical traces like blood. The blood detection can be so sensitive that it can be one part of blood out of 10 billion parts of water.
How Sharks Detect Blood in Water
When a drop of blood hits the ocean, it spreads rapidly. Nearby sharks catch a whiff of the blood and follow the trail. But here’s the truth – they don’t attack indiscriminately. Shark hunting behaviour is systematic and precise. Along with their extraordinary sense of smell, sharks are able to detect the tiny vibrations of potential prey.
Myth vs Reality: Do Sharks Attack Humans?
A lot of people believe that sharks become frenzied at the scent of human blood, but that is a misconception. Injured fish or marine animals draw in a shark’s attention far more than humans. Even a small cut while swimming won’t trigger a shark frenzy from miles away.
The ability to smell blood is simply a survival adaptation, not a risk to humans.
Final Thought
The ability to smell is one of nature’s finest work. These ancient predators have survived for over four hundred million years thanks to a complex mastery of their senses and powerful evolutionary adaptations – Its not movie magic.
References:
