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Different Breeds of Cats with Pictures

Cat Breeds with descriptions of personality, traits, colors and characteristics of Cat Breeds

Norwegian Pictures

Burmese Breed Burmese Pictures

British Shorthair Breed

British Pictures

Persian Breed

rent cat breed profiles and types are listed. Information regarding each cat breed's personality, history, coat type and care
e, colours, temperament etc. There are many different cat breeds to choose from. Photos are included. Which breed of ca

Devon Rex
Egyptian Mau

Scottish FoldSelkirk
Rex

Exotic Shorthairs
Highlander
Himalayan
Maine Coon
Norwegian Forest Cat
Oriental
Ocicat
Persian
Ragdoll
Russian Blue

Siberian
Siamese
Singapura
Somali
Sphynx
Toyger
Tonkinese
Turkish Van
Hypoallergenic
Cats

Different breeds of cats with pictures, description and information on each of the listed domestic cat breeds.
Which breed would you choose? Examples below.

The Abyssinian Cat is an affectionate intelligent cat, very

people orientated, extremely active and a cat that thrives
on interaction and play. They are not constant lap cats,
rather, they need to know what you are doing; like to help
you make a telephone call; read your newspaper or make
your bed, in fact they insist on being included in all family
activities as a right.
More Information Abyssinian Cat Breed

Australian Mist Cats have a great temperament. The

kittens are lively but not boisterous. They are an
extremely affectionate breed and very people orientated.
They prefer to spend their time with their owners and are
always involved in family activities. The even
temperament makes them excellent pets for anyone even
very young children.
More information Australian Mist Cat Breed

Balinese Cats: They are extremely affectionate and love

to be in contact with their people. A Balinese is a cat that
will be noticed. They will be there with you in times of
need, consoling you with their company, and they will be
there in your times of joy, ready to play and join in the
fun. Life with a Balinese is an adventure, always on the
move and never dull.
More Information Balinese Cat Breed

The Bengal Cat's activity level is very high and they love
to play, run and leap. They are great climbers and
jumpers. They could at times be described as
mischievous. Bengals are not a cat to be ignored. They
sometimes demand a lot of attention but they will always
keep you entertained with their antics.
More Information Bengal Cat Breed

Birman Cats are affectionate, intelligent, playful cats, and

are the happiest in family or multi-pet households. Males,
in particular, are often very talkative. They are a placid
cat and very loyal to their owners. Birmans are gentle and
playful.
More Information Birman Cat Breed

Bombay Cats They are an outgoing cat, friendly and

playful. They are easily leash trained and like to retrieve.
They are a very sociable cat and make a great addition to
the family as they get on well with children and dogs.
They are very agile and athletic and their antics will keep
you constantly amused.
More Information Bombay Cats Breed

British Shorthair Cats are placid, non demanding,

tolerant, docile and respectful. They are not vocal cats
and in fact are very quiet and can cope with being alone
without fretting. They are not inclined to wander. They
love children and get along extremely well with dogs.
More Information British Shorthair Cat Breed

The Burmese Cat is a very friendly inquisitive cat with an

outgoing, loving nature. The Burmese is an upfront cat,
not left out of where it is all happening. It's a participator
- alert, curious, intelligent, interfering and gregarious:
you cannot ignore it! Burmese are one of the most
popular breeds. It has been said that the Burmese are
more like dogs than cats in their behaviour.
More Information Burmese Cat Breed

The Burmilla Cat is an outgoing, friendly and sociable cat

Burmillas are great with children. Combined with their low
maintenance and wonderful disposition they make an
ideal family pet.
More Information Burmilla Cat Breed

Burmilla Long Hair The longhair Burmilla is bright and

fun loving, but more laid back than its shorthair relative
in most cases. It is an ideal cat for single people or
families, being quite happy to wait until you come home
for attention. They are not a demanding cat, but still love
to spend as much time with you as possible. Many of
them are very good fetch-it cats too!
More Information Burmilla Long Hair Cat Breed

Cheetoh Cat attributes include a super affectionate

nature and real love for their human companions, great
deal of intelligence with the ability to learn quickly and a
keen instinct to hunt. The Cheetoh Cat is also extremely
intelligent, very curious and quite dog-like in their ways.
Cheetoh's are a sweet natured lap cat that look wild but
have a dependable docile nature and can be trusted
around anyone, especially children.
More information Cheetoh Cat Breed

Chinchilla Cat Chinchillas are generally very placid, quiet

cats, happy to lie around the home being decorative.
They are affectionate, enjoy attention and can become
quite attached to their owners.
More Information Chinchilla Cat Breed

Cornish Rex Cat Once seen, never forgotten. The Cornish

Rex cat is delightful, distinctively different, constantly
charming and captivating. Rexes need people, and given
a choice will spend most of their time with humans. They
like people and they also like to participate in their
activities. Using its paws like hands, a Cornish Rex can
pick up small objects, and some have even learned to
turn door knobs and open doors More Information
Cornish Rex Cat Breed

Devon Rex Cats: The character of the Devon Rex is

remarkable! Devon Rex are alert and active, and shows a
lively interest in their surroundings. They love to be with
their humans, and enjoy playing fetch or other games.
They are also extremely agile cats with an inquisitive
nature and will explore every corner of their homes.
More Information Devon Rex Cat Breed

Egyptian Mau The average Mau is quite clingy to his

owners; some will take to only one member of the family,
while others will take over the entire household.
Whichever way it goes, once the Mau has bonded, he is
your lover for life and will actively participate in anything
that you are doing (whether you want him there or not)
More Information Egyptian Mau Cat Breed

Exotic Shorthairs The personality of the Exotic cat is like

that of the Persian, outgoing, placid, easy to handle and
beautiful to look at. This combined with a sense of
immense curiosity about what goes on about them makes
them the ideal companion. They are most happy when
they are with people and love playing with children or
just sitting on a lap or on the arm of your chair.
More Information Exotic Shorthair Breed

Highlander Cat The Highlander cat will steal your heart

with their fun loving nature and crazy antics. This breed
is extremely affectionate, gentle and also very playful.
The Highlander cat loves to be the centre of attention.
They are a high energy cat with an inquisitive nature.
They love to chase and play.
More Information Highlander Cat Breed

Himalayan Cats Along with their striking appearance,

Himalayans have a wonderfully outgoing and engaging
personality being extremely affectionate, playful and
endearing. Many Himalayan fanciers would say they
are the most outgoing of all Persian cats.
More Information Himalayan Cat Breed

Maine Coon Cats are a loyal gentle cat. They are often
known as the Gentle Giant of the cat world. They are a
vocal breed with a variety of meows, chirps and trills.
They are very sociable and get on well with children
and other pets. They love to be part of the family and
will join in most family activities.
More Information Main Coon Cat Breed

The Norwegian Forest Cat enjoys being with people and

other pets and is excellent with children. They are very
patient animals and are not stressed easily. They are
very intelligent and have a natural curiosity. They like
to be up high to survey their kingdom. A climbing tree
is perfect and they will spend endless amounts of
energy going up and down doing all they can to impress
you with their athletic abilities.
More Information Norwegian Forest Cat Breed

Ocicat The Ocicat personality and temperament are

predictable and loving - they make a wonderful addition
to any household - they generally adapt readily to most
situations, including children and other pets. They are
a beautiful, wild looking cat with the best domestic cat
personality, very active and ready to play, but willing to
purr on your lap too.
More Information Ocicat Breed

Oriental Cats Orientals eagerly greet you at the door

and tell you all about their day. If youre late, they will
scold you and tell you how worried they were that you
didn't call. Curiosity and intelligence combined,
providing Orientals a means of finding anything and
everything. They have been known to open a drawer, or
empty your purse to discover their favourite toy. Give
Orientals the attention and affection they so
desperately need, and they will do anything to please
you. Ignore them, and they will droop with despair.
More Information Oriental Cat Breed

Persian Cats are usually a quiet and gentle cat. They

are calm and undemanding and can be very
affectionate. They are very placid and unlikely to
scratch anyone. Because of the Persian's serene nature
they usually get on well with other pets and are great
with children that are not too boisterous. They love to
be stroked and patted and lap up any attention you
give them.
More Information Persian Cat Breed

Ragdoll Cats are extremely docile and love to be held

and cuddled. They are usually relaxed in new
surroundings and get on well with dogs and cats.
Ragdolls are very affectionate and gentle making them
an ideal pet for children.They have a quiet voice and
are playful without being noisy or destructive. Ragdolls
are a very laid back cat and become devoted to their
owners.
More Information Ragdoll Cat Breed

Russian Blue The Russian Blue has a quiet sometimes

shy although very affectionate personality. They are
very soft spoken and you rarely hear them speak. They
are very well suited to indoor life.The Russian Blue's
quiet tranquil personality may best suit a family with
the same characteristics. They are very loyal and
become devoted to their owners.The Russian Blue is an
intelligent cat, playful and sweet. They like to join in
family activities.
More Information Russian Blue Cat Breed

Scottish Folds. Scottish Folds are a very friendly and

docile cat. Their large round eyes and folded ears,
coupled with expressive looks, intelligence and
inquisitive nature make them a wonderful extension to
the family home. Folds are not very vocal. Scottish
Folds have very tiny "meows". The breed is very good
with children, and can adapt to almost any situation.
Scottish Folds also make friends readily with other
cats.

More Information Scottish Fold Cat Breed

Selkirk Rex They are curious, tolerant, extremely

sociable cats that enjoy spending time with their
preferred persons. People-oriented without being clingy,
Selkirks have a generous measure of love and loyalty
for their human companions. Selkirks fit in well with
other family members including children, and usually
get along well with other companion animals
More Information Selkirk Rex Breed

Siamese Cats are a very intelligent, lively, entertaining

cat. They can be very demanding and become totally
involved in their owner's life. Siamese do not like to be
ignored and always have to be the centre of attention.
They usually regard themselves as people rather than
cats. You will never be bored if you own a Siamese cat.
More Information Siamese Cat Breed

Siberian Cats Personality Plus. The Siberian has a very

dog like temperament and are very affectionate. They
come out to great the visitors in the house and are not
shy. They are very intelligent and very quick learners.
They also have a triple purr and unlike other breeds
have a chirping sound they use when they come to
greet you. When they are around water they appear to
be fascinated with it and will drop toys into it and play
in sinks with water left in. The Siberian makes the ideal
lap cat and will live quite happily indoors with you.More
Information Siberian Cat Breed

Singapura Cats Singapura cats are mischievous and

inquisitive, meaning that they will investigate anything
thoroughly. They are very quick witted, able to adapt
and learn, intelligent, lightning fast and genuinely tough
and hardy. They get on well with children and other
pets.They have enchanting personalities, always
wanting to please and entertain you. Soft sweet little
voices that question you and answer you back. They
are truly people pleasers.
More Information Singapura Cats

Somali Cats have bright, bubbly, energetic and loving

personalities. They are very intelligent and active cats,
who demonstrate a real devotion to their staff. Somali
cats are intensely affectionate to their people, and are
usually extroverted and enjoy visitors also. These cats
make their presence felt - they share their special joie
de vivre with the humans in their lives. They often like
to sit on your shoulder to supervise what you are doing,
will help with the housework - they are great at making
the beds!
More information Somali Cat Breed

Sphynx Cats Sphynx are very active and love to the

centre of attention, they are not suited to people
wanting a quiet docile cat. Sphynx have a friendly
disposition and are very sociable with other people and
pets. Sphynx are very intelligent and can be taught to
walk on a lead and respond to voice commands. They
are often described as the most intelligent and
affectionate of all cat breeds.
More Information Sphynx Cat Breed

Toyger Cats The Toyger has a laid back easy going

temperament and makes a good companion. They are
athletic and love to be around people. They are very
suitable for most households and get on well with
children and other pets. Toygers are intelligent and are
easily trained. Many Toygers enjoy playing with water
much like their wild cousins, tigers, who are strong
swimmers and enjoy bathing in rivers, lakes and

waterholes.
More Information Toyger Cat Breed

Tonkinese Cats The personality of the Tonkinese is, to

me, unique. A cat that will retrieve things for you, run
and meet you at the front door when you get home
from work, insist on sitting on your lap or the most
comfortable position, a cat that not only gets along with
dogs but has them wrapped around their little claws,
can be taken for walks on a lead, are all characteristics
of a fantastic breed.
More Information Tonkinese Cat Breed

The Turkish Van Cat is extremely intelligent and

imaginative. A Turkish cat is very lively, loving and
demonstrative pet. They frequently chatter in answer to
their owners, more often than not getting the last word
in. Turkish Van cats often retrieve toy mice, balls and
crumpled paper, and will exhaust their owners long
before they tire themselves. An intriguing aspect of
Turkish Vans is their insatiable curiosity for water, A few
are not interested but the majority can be found
dipping their paws, toys and bedding in water bowls, or
sitting in sinks and baths waiting for the tap to be
turned on. They will also assist with rituals like
dishwashing and often sit entranced while their owners
are showering.
More Information Turkish Van Cat Breed

See also Cat Breed Photos & Cute Kitten Pictures for more pictures of different breeds.

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Home > Cat Breeds

Cat Breeds
Use this scroller to find a cat breed (or type the first letter of a breed name to jump through the list) -- or
browse cat breeds below.

Abyssinian
American Bobtail
American Curl
American Shorthair
American Wirehair
Balinese

Browse Cat Breeds

10 at a time

Abyssinian

Abyssinians aren't for those who want decorative cats to match the rust-colored carpet, or for those who want cats
that enjoy ...
Read more about the Abyssinian cat breed.

American Bobtail

While the breed is still developing, breeders say that Bobtails are playful, energetic, and friendly, and possess an
uncanny ...
Read more about the American Bobtail cat breed.

American Curl

Curls have qualities other than the whimsical ears to make them attractive pets. They are people cats that do not
show any of ...
Read more about the American Curl cat breed.

American Shorthair

When describing the American Shorthair, the expression 'happy medium' springs to mind. These all-American cats
are medium in ...
Read more about the American Shorthair cat breed.

American Wirehair

Wirehairs are people cats that crave human attention and affection. They are active without being hyper, and
affectionate ...
Read more about the American Wirehair cat breed.

Balinese

Balinese cats are smart, sweet, and fun to be around. Like the Siamese, they are known for their ability to
communicate vocally, ...
Read more about the Balinese cat breed.

Bengal

The Bengal may look like a wild cat, but breeders insist that the Bengal is as lovably friendly and docile as any fullblooded ...
Read more about the Bengal cat breed.

Birman

Birmans are affectionate, gentle, and faithful companions with an air of dignity that seems to invite adoration by their
human ...
Read more about the Birman cat breed.

Bombay

If an aloof, independent cat is what you're craving, this breed isn't for you. Bombays are attached to their family, and
tend to ...
Read more about the Bombay cat breed.

British Shorthair

If you're looking for a cat that will loot your refrigerator and swing dizzily from your chandeliers, then the British
Shorthair ...
Read more about the British Shorthair cat breed.

Burmese

Breeders and fanciers report that Burmese are amusing, playful, and super-smart, the perfect interactive cats for
home, office, ...
Read more about the Burmese cat breed.

Chartreux

Known for their hunting prowess, Chartreux cats may have been taken in by those monks long ago to rid the
monastery of vermin. ...
Read more about the Chartreux cat breed.

Cornish Rex

Cornish Rexes are good for folks who like having their lives run by active, inquisitive, gazelle-like felines that love a
good ...
Read more about the Cornish Rex cat breed.

Cymric

The personality of the Cymric has won a strong following despite the breeding challenges. Cymrics are intelligent,
fun-loving ...
Read more about the Cymric cat breed.

Devon Rex

Devons have been compared to pixies, elves, and, of course, space aliens for their jumbo-sized satellite-dish ears,
large, ...
Read more about the Devon Rex cat breed.

Egyptian Mau

While fanciers might at first be attracted to the Egyptian Mau's beautiful spotted coat, most become enthusiasts
because of the ...
Read more about the Egyptian Mau cat breed.

Exotic Shorthair

Some folks who don't appreciate that laid-back, mellow personality label Persians and their relatives 'furniture with
fur', but ...
Read more about the Exotic Shorthair cat breed.

Havana Brown

More distinctive than the muzzle, ears, or minklike coat is the Havana Brown?s personality. Although still quite rare
and for ...
Read more about the Havana Brown cat breed.

Himalayan

Himmies, as fanciers call them, are perfect indoor cat companions. They are gentle, calm, and sweet-tempered, but
they possess a ...
Read more about the Himalayan cat breed.

Japanese Bobtail

Bobs make outstanding companions. They're curious, bold, intelligent, and alert, and easily adjust to new people,
situations, ...
Read more about the Japanese Bobtail cat breed.

Javanese

Javanese cats, like their Balinese relatives, are playful, devoted, and always eager to tell you their views on life, love,
and ...
Read more about the Javanese cat breed.

Korat

Korats are not as vocal as their Siamese comrades; they have other ways of getting their wishes across. At
dinnertime they'll ...
Read more about the Korat cat breed.

Maine Coon

No breed has a monopoly on love and affection, but there's got to be some good reason that the Maine Coon has
clawed his way up ...
Read more about the Maine Coon cat breed.

Manx

The Manx's personality is probably the reason the breed has won such a strong following despite the physical
difficulties and ...
Read more about the Manx cat breed.

Munchkin

For their part, Munchkins, oblivious to the controversy surrounding them, go on being just what they are, cats; selfassured and ...
Read more about the Munchkin cat breed.

Nebelung

Nebelungs are mild, soft-spoken, and gentle. They are generally reserved around strangers, ranging from hidingunder-the-bed ...
Read more about the Nebelung cat breed.

Norwegian Forest Cat

Natural athletes, Norwegian Forest Cats love to investigate counters, bookcases, and the loftiest peaks of their cat
trees. ...
Read more about the Norwegian Forest Cat cat breed.

Ocicat

Ocicats may look wild, but they are actually affectionate, curious, and playful, and possess a very strong devotion to
their ...
Read more about the Ocicat cat breed.

Oriental

The personality of the Oriental is as distinctive as the multicolored exterior. They are natural entertainers, full of ...
Read more about the Oriental cat breed.

Persian

If you want your cats bouncing around like hyperactive popcorn, don't buy a Persian. Persians are perfect
companions, if you ...
Read more about the Persian cat breed.

Ragdoll

Docile, mild-mannered, and congenial, Rag-dolls make ideal indoor companions. One of the nicest features of these
cats is their ...
Read more about the Ragdoll cat breed.

Russian Blue

Russian Blues are gentle, genteel cats, and are usually reserved, or absent, when strangers are around. When
they're with their ...
Read more about the Russian Blue cat breed.

Scottish Fold

Scottish Folds are intelligent, sweet-tempered, soft-spoken, and easily adaptable to new people and situations. They
are very ...
Read more about the Scottish Fold cat breed.

Selkirk Rex

Selkirks are fun-loving, mellow cats with a generous measure of love and affection for their human companions. Very
people-...
Read more about the Selkirk Rex cat breed.

Siamese

Some cats seem to think that a purr or a friendly rub speaks louder than words. Siamese are not of this school of
thought and ...
Read more about the Siamese cat breed.

Siberian

Siberians are affectionate cats with a good dose of personality and playfulness. They are amenable to handling, and
breeders ...
Read more about the Siberian cat breed.

Singapura

Singapuras, happily unaware of the controversy surrounding them, go right on being what they are: pesky people
pleasers. At home ...
Read more about the Singapura cat breed.

Snowshoe

Breeders brave enough to take on the Snowshoe challenge find that the cat pays back the effort in love and affection.
Anyone ...
Read more about the Snowshoe cat breed.

Somali

With all the virtues of the Abyssinian and adorned by a gorgeous semi-long coat, the Somali is a beautiful and lively
addition ...
Read more about the Somali cat breed.

Sphynx

According to the French breed standard, the Sphynx is part monkey, part dog, part child, and part cat. The breed
does seem to ...
Read more about the Sphynx cat breed.

Tonkinese

The Tonkinese has a winsome personality, not surprising since the Burmese and Siamese are prized for their
temperaments. ...
Read more about the Tonkinese cat breed.

Turkish Angora

Turkish Angora fanciers are as attached to their cats as their cats are to them. Angoras seem to invoke strong
responses in ...
Read more about the Turkish Angora cat breed.

Turkish Van

While you might be drawn to the Van for his fascination with water, you'll fall in love with the breed for his other
qualities. '...
Read more about the Turkish Van cat breed.
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Amazing Animal Senses

Visible Light

Infrared Radiation

Touch

Smells

Sound

Magnetic Fields

Ultraviolet Light

Tastes

Temperature

Electric Fields
Gravity

Some animals have developed amazing adaptations to their environments. Many different
types of energy exist in the environment, some of which humans cannot detect. Here are
some examples of how some animals sense the outside world and the anatomical structures
that allow them to do so.

Ants

Can detect small

movement
through 5 cm of
earth.
Can see
polarized light.

Can detect
warmth of an
animal from
about 16 cm
away using its
"nose-leaf".

Bats can also

find food
(insects) up to
18 ft. away and
get information
about the type of
insect using

Bats

their sense of
echolocation.

Can see light

between
wavelengths 300
nm and 650 nm.

Have chemorece
ptors (taste
receptors) on
their jaws,
forelimbs and
antennae.

Worker honey
bees have 5,500
lenses
("ommatidia") in
each eye.

Worker honey
bees have a ring
of iron oxide
("magnetite") in
their abdomens
that may be used
to detect
magnetic fields.
They may use
this ability to
detect changes in
the earth's
magnetic field
and use it for

Bees

Butterfly

Can hear
frequencies
between 3,000
and 120,000 Hz.

Has chemorecep
tors (taste
receptors) on its
feet.

The butterfly
has hairs on its
wings to detect
changes in air
pressure.

Using vision,
the
butterfly Colias
can distinguish
two points
separated by as
little as 30
microns.
(Humans can
distinuguish two
points separated
by 100
microns.)

navigation.

Buzzard

Retina has 1
million photorec
eptors per sq.
mm.

Can see small

rodents from a
height of 15,000
ft.

The eyes of the

chameleon can
move
independently.
Therefore, it can
see in two
different
directions at the
same time.

Chamele
on

Crab

Can see
polarized light.

Has hairs on
claws and other
parts of the body
to detect water
current and
vibration.

Has hearing
range between
100 and 60,000
Hz.

Olfactory
membrane about
14 sq. cm. For
comparison,
humans have an
olfactory
membrane of
about 4 sq. cm.

Can detect
movement as
small as 2,000
times the
diameter of a
hydrogen atom.

Has sensory
hairs that can
detect
movement of
0.1 microns (at
100 Hz

Cat

Cockroac
h

Crayfish

Many crabs have

their eyes on the
end of stalks.

Can hear using

their legs; sound
waves vibrate a
thin membrane
on the cricket's
front legs.

Cricket

Dolphin

Earthwor
m

Like bats,
dolphins use
echolocation for
movement and
locating objects.

Can hear
frequencies up to
at least 100,000
Hz.

Entire body
covered
with chemorecep
tors (taste
receptors).

frequency).

Dog

Dragonfl
y

Has olfactory
membrane up to
150 sq. cm.

Can hear sound

as high as
40,000 Hz.

Eye contains
30,000 lenses.

Eyeball length =
35 mm (human
eyeball length =
24 mm)

Visual acuity is
2.0 to 3.6 times
better
(depending on
the type of
eagel) than that
of
humans. (Shlaer,

Eagle

R., An eagle's eye:

quality of the
retinal
image, Science,
176:920-922,
1972.)

Elephant

Fish

Has hearing
range between 1
and 20,000 Hz.
The very low
frequency sounds
are in the
"infrasound"
range. Humans
cannot hear
sounds in the
infrasound range.

Some can detect

the L-serine (a
chemical found
in the skin of
mammals)
diluted to 1 part
per billion.

Have a "lateral
line" system
consisting of
sense organs
("neuromasts")
in canals along

Can see a 10
cm. object from
a distance of 1.5
km.

Visual acuity is
2.6 times better
than
human. (Garcia et
al., Falcon visual
acuity, Science,
192:263-265,
1976.)

Falcon

Fish
(Catfish)

Can see sharp

images even
when diving at
100 miles/hr.

Has 3 or 4 pairs
of whiskers,
called barbels,
to find food. The
catfish also has
approximately
100,000 taste
buds. (Humans
have only
10,000 taste
buds.)

the head and

trunk. These
receptors are
used to detect
changes in water
pressure and may
be used to locate
prey and aid
movement.

Fish
(Deep
sea)

Some fish can

see into the
infrared
wavelength of
the
electromagnetic
spectrum.

Only have rods

in the retina: 25
million rods/sq.
mm. Perhaps
they need this
high density of
photoreceptors to
detect the dim
biolumninescenc
e that exists in
the ocean depths.

Can see in air

Collects
underwater
sound vibrations
with an air
bladder. The
signals are then
sent from the air
bladder to the
"weberian
apparatus" in the
middle ear and
then to the inner
ear. Hair cells in
the inner ear
respond to the
vibration and
transmit sound
information to
the fish brain.

Each eye has

Fish
(Drum
Fish)

Fish ("Foureyed
Fish"Anableps
microlepis)

and water
simultaneously.
Each eye is
divided by flaps,
so there is one
opening in the air
and one in the
water.

Fly

3,000 lenses.
(Simmons and
Young, 1999)

Eye has a flicker

fusion rate of
300/sec.
Humans have a
flicker fusion
rate of only
60/sec in bright
light and 24/sec
in dim light. The
flicker fusion
rate is the
frequency with
which the
"flicker" of an
image cannot be
distinguished as
an individual
event. Like the
frame of a
movie...if you
slowed it down,
you would see
individual
frames. Speed it
up and you see a
constantly
moving image.

The small
parasitic fly
(Ormia
ochracea) can
locate sounds
within a range
of only 2o of the
midline. (Mason
et al., Nature,
410:686-690,
2001)

Frog

Grasshop
per

Hawk
Buteo

Has an eardrum
(tympanic
membrane) on
the outside of the
body behind the
eye.

Has hairs
("sensilla") all
over the body to
detect air
movement.

Can hear up to
50,000 Hz.

Has 1 million
photoreceptor
per square
millimeter in its
retina.

Giant
Squid

Blowflies taste
with 3,000
sensory hairs on
their feet.

Eye is 25 cm in
diameter.

Retina can
contain up to 1
billion
photoreceptors.

Normal vision
for people is
20/20. A hawk's
vision is
equivalent to
20/5. This
means that the
hawk can see
from 20 feet
what most
people can see
from 5 feet.
(Scientific
American, April
2001, page 24)

Able to detect
the temperature
of sand within 2
degrees F. This
temperature is
needed for the
iguana to lay its

Hawk

Iguana

eggs.

Jellyfish

435:201-205, 2005.)

Starnosed
Mole

Moth

The box jellyfish

has 24
eyes. (Nature,

Uses its fleshy

star nose for
hunting. The
Star-nosed mole
has 100,000
nerve fibers that
run from star to
the brain. This is
almost six times
more than the
touch receptors
in the human
hand.

Noctuid Moth
has a hearing
range between
1,000 and
240,000 Hz.
Emperor Moth
can detect
pheromones up
to 5 km. distant.

Can hear
frequencies
between 1,000
and 100,000 Hz.
By comparison,
humans can hear
frequencies
between 20 and
20,000 Hz.

Attracted to host
by human body
odor (especially
foot odor),
carbon dioxide,
body heat and
body humidity.

Retina contains
20 million
photoreceptors.

The eye has a

flicker fusion
frequency of
70/sec in bright
light.

Mice

Mosquito

Octopus

Penguin

Pigeon

Silkworm Moth
can detect
pheromones up
to 11 km. distant.
This moth can
detect
pheromones in
concentrations as
low as 1
molecule of
pheromone per
1017 molecules of
air. A receptor
cell can respond
to a single
molecule of the
pheromone
called bombykol
and 200
molecules can
cause a
behavioral
response.

Has a flat cornea

that allows for
clear vision
underwater.
Penguins can
also see into the
ultraviolet range
of the
electromagnetic
spectrum.

With eyes
mounted laterally
on their heads,
pigeons can view

The pupil of the

eye is
rectangular.

Has chemorecep
tors (taste
receptors) on the
suckers of their
tentacles. By
tasting this way,
an octopus does
not have to
leave the safety
of its home.

Tongue contains
15,000 taste
buds. For
comparison, the
human tongue
has 9,000 taste
buds.

Has electric
sensors in its bill
that can detect
0.05 microvolts.

Pig

Platypus

Other receptors
in the bill are for
touch and
temperature
detection.

340
degrees...everyw
here except in
back of their
heads.

Can detect
sounds as low as
0.1 Hz.

Tongue contains
17,000 taste
buds.

Rabbit

Seahorse

Scorpion

Each eye can

move
independently.

Can detect air

moving at only
0.072 km/hr with
special hairs on
its pincers.

The cochlea of
the inner ear is
coiled only a
quarter of a turn.
In man, the
cochlea is coiled
about 2.7 times.

Has hearing
range between
1,000 and
90,000 Hz.

Has 100 eyes

around the edge
of the shell.
These eyes are
probably used to
detect shadows
of predators
such as the
starfish.

Has specialized
electrosensing
receptors with
thresholds as
low as 0.005
uV/cm. These
receptors may

Rat

Scallop

Shark

be used to locate
prey. The
dogfish can
detect a flounder
that is buried
under the sand
and emitting 4
uAmp of
current.

Some sharks can

detect fish
extracts as
concentrations
lower than one
part in 10
billion.

Some sharks
sense light
directly through
the skull by the
pineal body.

The thresher
shark has an eye
up to 5 inches
(12.5 cm) in
diameter.

Can have as
many as 12 eyes.

The last three facts are from

D.Perrine, Sharks and Rays
of the World, Stillwater:
Voyaguer Press, 1999.

Snakes

Pit-vipers have a
heat-sensitive
organ between
the eyes and the
nostrils about 0.5
cm deep. This
organ has a
membrane

Sparrow

Retina has
400,000
photoreceptors
per sq. mm.

containing 7,000
nerve endings
that respond to
temperature
changes as small
as 0.002-0.003
degrees
centigrade. A
rattlesnake can
detect a mouse
40 cm away if
the mouse is 10
degrees
centigrade above
the outside
temperature.

The tongue of
snakes has no
taste buds.
Instead, the
tongue is used to
bring smells and
tastes into the
mouth. Smells
and tastes are
then detected in
two pits, called
"Jacobson's
organs", on the
roof of their
mouths.
Receptors in the
pits then transmit
smell and taste
information to
the brain.

Snakes have no
external ears.
Therefore, they
do not hear the
music of a
"snake charmer".

Instead, they are

probably
responding to the
movements of
the snake
charmer and the
flute. However,
sound waves
may travel
through bones in
their heads to the
middle ear.

Snakes have no
moveable
eyelids. Instead,
they have a clear,
scale-like
membrane
covering the eye.

Spider

Many spiders
have eight eyes.

Starfish

Arms covered
with light
sensitive cells.
Light that
projects on an
"eyespot" on
each arm causes
the arm to
move.

For more information, see:

Insects Amazing Sense of Smell
A few good books for information about the amazing senses of animals are:
1. John Downer, Supersense. Perception in the Animal World, Holt and Co., New
York, 1988, pp. 160. (Grades 9-12).

2. Howard C. Hughes, Sensory Exotica. A World Beyond Human Experience, The

MIT Press, Cambridge, 1999, pp. 345. (Grades 9-12).
3. Sandra Sinclair, How Animals See. Other Visions of Our World, Facts on File
Publications, New York, 1985, pp. 146 (Grades 7-12).
4. Jillyn Smith, Senses & Sensibilities, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1989, pp.
230 (Grades 9-12).
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https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/amaze.html

. Think of the term alligator skin as a compliment: Its extraordinarily sensitive to minute
changes in vibration, which helps locate prey.
2. Alligators are touchy, but the platypus is more the feely type. The only mammal with
electroreception, it uses sensors in its bill to detect electrical impulses sent out by prey in
murky water.
3. Researchers believe electromagnetism may help red wood ants sense imminent
earthquakes in time to evacuate their mounds. Someday these creatures may be part of
geologic threat-detection systems.
4. Elephants, too, are acutely aware of vibrations. They use seismic activity generated by
their trunks and feet to communicate with one another about predators, territory and
mating preferences.
5. Star-nosed moles have 22 tiny trunks containing a total of nearly 100,000 nerve fibers
six times as many touch receptors as on a human hand. As the mole burrows, the tentacles
sweep ahead like a high-speed broom, faster than a human eye can detect.

6. Above ground, wolves have a sense of pitch. Not wanting to lose their voice in a howling
chorus, they pick their own unique note.
7. Seals are notable for their whiskers, which can detect the hydrodynamic trail of fish
swimming up to 600 feet away.
8. Sensing dinner is one thing, but animals from white-crowned sparrows to deer can sense
if their diet is lacking in important nutrients. Theyll crave food containing amino acids that
cant be produced or stored by the body.
9. On the topic of bodies, a catfishs is wrapped in taste buds. Its like a swimming tongue
that helps detect the flavor of potential prey from all directions.
10. Back on terra firma, chemoreceptors that detect chemical changes and provide a sense
of taste cover an earthworms entire body.
11. Snakes tongues do more than taste: They help track prey. Their forked tongues pick up
scent molecules that the animal transfers, via specialized ducts in the mouth, to the
Jacobsons organ, which can detect where the scents source is located.
12. Rats and common moles can smell in stereo with independently acting nostrils.
Researchers are putting their talents to use in Africa detecting land mines and other
explosives.
13. Up to 40 percent of a sharks brain is dedicated to sense of smell. No wonder some
experts believe they can sniff out prey thats a third of a mile away in the open ocean.
14. Parasitic worms also use scent to find hosts. By identifying odors attractive to these
parasites, researchers may one day develop traps for worms that pose major health risks.
15. Sight, not smell, is a raptors key sense. Even while diving at speeds of 100 mph or more,
falcons can spot prey thanks in part to a reduced number of blood vessels in the retina.
Since the vessels scatter light, having fewer of them creates extremely sharp images.
16. Scallops are no falcons, but some scientists believe theyre able to distinguish between
light and dark with as many as 100 eyes on the edge of their mantle. A reflective surface on
the back of each eye focuses light onto two retinas to form an image.

17. Four-eyed fish, Anableps anableps, really have just two eyes, but each one is
partitioned: The top keeps a lookout for above-surface predators while the bottom watches
underwater.
18. Not only do jumping spiders have eight eyes positioned to create nearly 360-degree
vision, but some species can detect ultraviolet radiation, which facilitates mating. (Mood
lighting, anyone?)
19. Worker honeybees navigate using rings of paramagnetic iron oxide in their abdomens
that swell or shrink depending on outside magnetic changes, allowing the insects to find
their way home by following changes in the Earths magnetic fields.
20. Jewel beetles have sensors that detect infrared radiation from forest fires as far as 50
miles away. The beetles use recently scorched areas for mating. Now thats putting the
sense in sensual.

http://discovermagazine.com/2014/may/26-20-things-animal-senses

Ants
Can detect small movement through 5 cm of earth.

Bats
Can detect warmth of an animal from about 16 cm away using its "noseleaf".
Bats can also find food (insects) up to 18 ft. away andget information about
the type of insect using their sense ofecholocation.

Bees
Can see light between wavelengths 300 nm and 650 nm.

 See the world through the eyes of a honeybee.

Have chemoreceptors (taste receptors) on their jaws, forelimbs and
antennae.
Worker honey bees have 5,500 lenses ("ommatidia") in each eye.
Worker honey bees have a ring of iron oxide ("magnetite") in
theirabdomens that may be used to detect magnetic fields. They may use
thisability to detect changes in the earth's magnetic field and use it
fornavigation.

Butterfly
Has chemoreceptors (taste receptors) onits feet.
The butterfly has hairs on its wings todetect changes in air pressure.

Buzzard
Retina has 1 million photoreceptors per sq. mm.
Can see small rodents from a height of 15,000 ft.

Cat
Has hearing range between 100 and 60,000 Hz.
Olfactory membrane about 14 sq. cm. For comparison, humans havean
olfactory membrane of about 4 sq. cm.

Chameleon
The eyes of the chameleon can move independently. Therefore, itcan seein
two different directions at the same time.

Cockroach
Can detect movement as small as 2,000 times the diameter of ahydrogen
atom.

Crab
Has hairs on claws and other parts of the body to detect watercurrent and
vibration.

Crayfish

Has sensory hairs that can detect movement of 0.1 microns (at 100Hz
frequency).

Dog
Has olfactory membrane up to 150 sq. cm. Find out how a dog'ssense of
smell is used in police work.
Can hear sound as high as 40,000 Hz.

Dolphin
Like bats, dolphins use echolocation for movement and locatingobjects.
Can hear frequencies up to at least 100,000 Hz.

Dragonfly

Eye contains 30,000 lenses.

Earthworm
Entire body covered with chemoreceptors(taste receptors).

Elephant
Has hearing range between 1 and 20,000 Hz. The very low
frequencysounds are in the "infrasound" range. Humans cannot hear
sounds in the infrasound range.

Falcon
Can see a 10 cm. object from a distance of 1.5 km.

Fish
Some can detect the L-serine (a chemical found in the skin ofmammals)
diluted to 1 part per billion.
Have a "lateral line" system consisting of sense organs ("neuromasts")in
canals along the head and trunk. These receptors are used to detectchanges
in water pressure and may be used to locate prey and aidmovement.
Some fish can see into the infrared wavelength of the
electromagneticspectrum.

Fish (Catfish)
Has 3 or 4 pairs of whiskers, called barbels, to find food. The catfish also
has approximately 100,000 taste buds. (Humans have only 10,000 taste
buds.)

Fish (Deep sea)

 Only have rods in the retina: 25 million rods/sq. mm. Perhapsthey need
this high density of photoreceptors to detect the dimbiolumninescence that
exists in the ocean depths.

Fish (Drum Fish)

Collects underwater sound vibrations with an air bladder. Thesignals are
then sent from the air bladder to the "weberian apparatus" inthe middle
ear and then to the inner ear. Hair cells in the inner earrespond to the
vibration and transmit sound information to the fishbrain.

Fish ("Four-eyed Fish" Anablepsmicrolepis)

Can see in air and watersimultaneously. Each eye is divided by flaps, so
there is one opening inthe air and one in the water.

Fly
Each eye has10,000 lenses.
Eye has a flicker fusion rate of 300/sec. Humans have aflicker fusion rate
of only 60/sec in bright light and 24/sec in dimlight. The flicker fusion rate
is the frequency with which the "flicker" of an image cannot be
distinguished as an individual event. Like theframe of a movie...if you
slowed it down, you would see individual frames.Speed it up and you see a
constantly moving image.
Blowflies tastewith 3,000 sensory hairs on their feet.

Frog
Hasan eardrum (tympanic membrane) on the outside of the body behind
theeye.

Giant Squid

 Eye is 40 cm in diameter.
Retina can contain up to 1 billion photoreceptors.

Grasshopper
Has hairs ("sensilla") all over the body to detect airmovement.
Can hear up to 50,000 Hz.

Iguana
Able to detect the temperature of sand within 2 degrees F. Thistemperature
is needed for the iguana to lay its eggs.

Mice
Can hear frequencies between 1,000 and 100,000 Hz. Bycomparison,
humans can hear frequencies between 20 and 20,000 Hz.

Mole (Star-nosedMole)
Uses its fleshy star nose for hunting. The Star-nosed mole has100,000 nerve
fibers that run from star to the brain. This is almost sixtimes more than
the touch receptors in the human hand.

Mosquito

Attracted to host by human body odor (especially foot odor),carbon

dioxide, body heat and body humidity.

Moth

 Noctuid Moth has a hearing range between 1,000 and 240,000Hz.

Emperor Moth can detect pheromones up to 5 km. distant.
Silkworm Moth can detect pheromones up to 11 km. distant.This moth can
detect pheromones in concentrations as low as 1molecule of pheromone
per 1017 molecules of air.

Octopus
Retina contains 20 million photoreceptors.
The eye has a flicker fusion frequency of 70/sec in brightlight.
The pupil of the eye is rectangular.
Has chemoreceptors (taste receptors) on the suckers of their tentacles. By
tasting this way, anoctopus does not have to leave the safety of its home.

Penguin
Hasa flat cornea that allows for clear vision underwater. Penguins can
alsosee into the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Pig
Tongue contains 15,000 taste buds. For comparison, the humantongue has
9,000 taste buds.

Pigeon

 With eyes mounted laterally on their heads, pigeons can view

340degrees...everywhere except in back of their heads.
Can detect sounds as low as 0.1 Hz.

Platypus
Has electric sensors in its bill that can detect 0.05 microvolts.Other
receptors in the bill are for touch and temperaturedetection.
The cochlea of the inner ear is coiled only a quarter of aturn. In man, the
cochlea is coiled about 2.7 times.

Rabbit
Tongue contains 17,000 taste buds.

Rat
Has hearing range between 1,000 and 90,000 Hz.

Seahorse
Each eye can move independently.

Scallop
Has100 eyes around the edge of the shell. These eyes are probably used
todetect shadows of predators like the starfish.

Scorpion
Can detect air moving at only 0.072 km/hr with special hairs onits pincers.
Can have as many as 12 eyes.

Shark
Has specialized electrosensingreceptors with threshold as low as
0.005uV/cm. These receptors may be used to locate prey. The dogfishcan
detect a flounder that is buried under the sand and emitting 4 uAmp of
current.

Snakes
Pit-vipers have a heat-sensitive organ between the eyes and thenostrils
about 0.5 cm deep. This organ has a membrane containing 7,000nerve
endings that respond to temperature changes as small as 0.002-0.003
degrees centigrade. A rattlesnake can detect a mouse 40 cm away if
themouse is 10 degrees centigrade above the outside temperature.
The tongue of snakes has no taste buds. Instead,the tongue is used to bring
smells and tastes into the mouth. Smells andtastes are then detected in two
pits, called "Jacobson's organs", on theroof of their mouths. Receptors in
the pits then transmit smell and tasteinformation to the brain.
Snakes have no external ears. Therefore, they do not hear the musicof a
"snake charmer". Instead, they are probably responding to themovements
of the snake charmer and the flute. However, sound waves maytravel
through bones in their heads to the middle ear.
Snakes have no moveable eyelids. Instead, they have a clear,scale-like
membrane covering the eye.

Sparrow
Retina has 400,000 photoreceptors per sq. mm.

Starfish
Arms covered with light sensitive cells. Light that projects onan "eyespot"
on each arm causes the arm to move.
http://sv.units.it/ppb/NeuroBiol/Neuroscienze%20per%20tutti/amaze.html

InsectsAmazing Sense of Smell

Small Animal Senses

Most small animals have the same senses that humans do, but they vary in intensity.
Viewed by most other animals as prey, small animals have highly developed sensory organs that enable them to
sense and survive danger. For the most part, small animal senses are much more fine-tuned than those of a
human and, in some cases, have evolved beyond our own five. Small animals with whiskers, for example, use
them in a fashion similar to how humans use their fingertips.
Following is a summary of how small animals rely on their senses for survival and protection from danger.

Hamsters:
o
o

Sight: Hamsters, with their large protruding eyes, are nearsighted. Their wide angle of vision
is due to their lateral positioning.
Hearing: The hamster compensates for her nearsightedness with a heightened sense of
hearing. They are able to hear a wide range of sounds, including ultrasonic frequencies, which allow them to
communicate without other animals hearing them.
Smell: Equipped with an acute sense of smell, hamsters are able to distinguish each other by
scent and, if handled often, also can recognize their owners by smell. But be careful: If your hand smells like
another hamster or food, their protective instinct may be to bite, so it is important to wash your hands before
handling your hamster

Guinea Pigs:
o

Sight: With eyes on the sides of their heads, Guinea pigs can see in front of them and to their
sides, without having to move their heads. Guinea pigs also can distinguish between the primary colors.

Taste: A guinea pigs sense of taste and smell is very highly developed. They use smell to
communicate with each other and can taste whether things are good or bad for them to eat.

Gerbils:
o

Hearing: A gerbils sense of hearing is so highly evolved that it can sense the slightest motion
nearby, or hear a sound as subtle as the flapping of an owls wings.

Rabbits:
o

o
o
o

Sight: Like hamsters, rabbits have large round eyes located on the sides and upper part of
their head. Each eye can see more than a half of a circle, enabling them to see in every direction at the same
time. Rabbits can see moving objects from very far distances and will flee at the first hint of danger.
Hearing: A rabbits hearing is its most vital sense. The rabbit is able to get a sense of its
surroundings by detecting sound waves that bounce off of objects in its environment.
Smell: With 100 million scent cells, rabbits have an excellent sense of smell.
Taste: Like humans, rabbits have the ability to distinguish between sweet, sour, bitter and
salty tastes. This is due to the thousands of taste buds located in the mouth and pharynx. In the wild, rabbits are
able to distinguish between toxic and non-toxic plants, but pet rabbits can lose this ability, so be aware of the
types of plants you have in your house.
Touch: Rabbits have nerve endings over their body and are sensitive to touch. Rabbits do
enjoy being petted but it is important to move slowly and never approach them from behind, as they will interpret
this as a predatory attack.

http://www.hartz.com/Small_Animals/Getting_Started/small_animal_senses.aspx

1. The cheetah
Humans can see most clearly within a narrow, head on viewpoint, whereas the cheetah can see across a long, horizontal narrow band, so it
can spot its prey anywhere within all of its surroundings.

The cheetah (Picture: Schmitt)

2. The reindeer
Reindeer can see UV light. This is crucial to their survival as in the snowy mountains of Alaska, this enables them to strip their predators
the wolf of their camouflage. In a landscape of white snow, the wolves show up black, enabling the reindeer to spot them from afar.

The reindeer (Picture: RONSAN4D)

3. The dragonfly
Dragonflies are master predators. They catch 95% of their prey, lions catch only 40%.
The dragonflys eyes are sensitive to blue light which makes the sky appear very bright. Even the tiniest insect casts a dark silhouette. To
actually catch it, warping vision allows them to see the world in slow motion.
It can spot and track an object and assess whether or not it is prey in 500ths of a second. We see 60 images per second, they see 200.

The dragonfly (Picture: mdvries)

4. Some animals can create their own light to survive
Luminescent organisms such as ostracods, a type of crustacean, can produce their own light through chemical reactions that create a glow
around them. Cardinal fish prey upon the ostracods, so when they are eaten they begin to glow and the predator spits them out so that the
internal glow doesnt make them visible to their own predators.
5. All the eyes on planet earth are the size of an orange or smaller
Except the giant squid, who has eyes the size of a human head. The giant squid can detect bioluminescent light in dark waters to catch its
prey or avoid its predators.
6. The peregrine falcon

Peregrine falcon (Picture: hfrankWI)

The fastest animal on earth, the peregrine falcon can travel at speeds of up to 180mph and they can spot their prey from a mile away. An
actual mile.
7. The Cuban boa
The Cuban boa can hunt its prey in complete darkness. In a pitch black cave, a Cuban boa can capture a bat as it can see infrared heat
which is invisible to human eyes. Furthermore, it doesnt even use its eyes to detect the infrared, it actually has pits all along the bottom of its
jaw, and the back of each pit is sensitive to heat.
8. The African elephant

African Elephant (Picture: Kyslynskyy)

Elephants use infrasonic hearing to communicate when they are very far from one another. They can hear thunderstorms from 500km away.
Thats like someone in London listening to a storm in Edinburgh.
9. The alligator

Alligator (Picture: turret42)

Male alligators make themselves vibrate underwater and put on a water display to attract females. And theyve been doing this since the
dinosaurs were around.
10. The coqui frog
The coqui frog is a very tiny Puerto Rican frog that makes distinctive and very loud co and qui sounds. They do it to establish territory and
attract nearby females.
11. The barn owl

Barn owl (Picture: tvirbickis)

The barn owl can pinpoint prey to the millimeter using their ears. Their two ears are in different places in order to listen to sound in different
directions and to tell how high or low the sound is coming from.
12. The bat

Bat (Picture: JasonOndreicka)

Bats can fly through woodland in pitch black, eat spiders from webs and pluck fish from water all by using echolocation which means they
make calls during flight, and listen to the echoes that return in order to map locations effectively seeing through sound.
13. The meerkat

Meerkat (Picture: xtrekx)

Meerkats can smell danger long before they see it. They use it to track predators, and also to defend their patch.
14. The wolverine

Wolverine(Picture: Handout/Reuters)
The wolverine, the largest member of the weasel family, can sniff out frozen carcasses that get buried deep beneath the snow after
avalanches.
15. The rattlesnake

Rattlesnake (Picture: Wide-River-Rick)

A rattlesnakes sense of taste and smell are the same. When it detects a scent, it brings its tongue out and picks up scent particles. It then
brings its tongue back in and presses it against the roof of its mouth to identify the scent.
16. The shark

Shark (Picture: cheekylorns)

Sharks are repelled by a scent called a necromone. This is the scent of decomposed animal remains. When released, the sharks disperse
immediately, so as to avoid whatever it is that is causing animals around them to die, be it disease or predator.
17. The killer bee

Bee (Picture: Anne-MarieDossett)

When a killer bee is under threat, it attacks the threat and gives off a pheromone that marks the predator and informs the entire colony who
come to its defense and joins the attack.

Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2014/09/03/17-amazing-facts-about-animal-senses-4839096/#ixzz3ymRj1xMJ

http://metro.co.uk/2014/09/03/17-amazing-facts-about-animal-senses-4839096/

Alligators: Their skin is supremely sensitive

1.

Despite the thick, rough, bumpy appearance of alligator skin, it's actually
exquisitely sensitive to the slightest change in vibration, which helps it locate prey.
The alligator's sense of touch resides in a series of small, pigmented spots around its
face and jaws. These spots contain an impressive collection of touch sensors that are
more sensitive to pressure and vibration than human fingertips.
Source: Vanderbilt University

1.

The platypus holds the distinction of being the only mammal with
electroreception. Instead of using sight, sound or smell, the platypus uses sensors in its
bill to detect the electrical impulses of nearby prey in even the deepest, murkiest waters.
The trigeminal nerves supply sensory stimuli to the brain from the teeth, tongue and
face. In the platypus, the fifth pair of nerves, which supplies the muscles of the face, are
unusually large, making the sensitivity of the different parts of the bill quite acute.
Source: Reed College

1.

The platypus holds the distinction of being the only mammal with
electroreception. Instead of using sight, sound or smell, the platypus uses sensors in its
bill to detect the electrical impulses of nearby prey in even the deepest, murkiest waters.
The trigeminal nerves supply sensory stimuli to the brain from the teeth, tongue and
face. In the platypus, the fifth pair of nerves, which supplies the muscles of the face, are
unusually large, making the sensitivity of the different parts of the bill quite acute.
Source: Reed College

The platypus holds the distinction of being the only mammal with electroreception.
Instead of using sight, sound or smell, the platypus uses sensors in its bill to detect the
electrical impulses of nearby prey in even the deepest, murkiest waters.
The trigeminal nerves supply sensory stimuli to the brain from the teeth, tongue and
face. In the platypus, the fifth pair of nerves, which supplies the muscles of the face, are
unusually large, making the sensitivity of the different parts of the bill quite acute.
Source: Reed College

Scientists believe red wood ants use electromagnetism to sense impending

earthquakes, which is why they are able to evacuate an area ahead of time. And this is
a good thing, since the red wood ants in Germany tend to build mounds on active faults,
which are fractures in the Earth that violently rupture during an earthquake.
Researchers suspect the ants pick up changing gas emissions or local shifts in the
Earth's magnetic field that occur prior to earthquakes.
Source: LiveScience

The elephant is another creature very attuned to vibrational energy. In case you thought
that impressive trunk was just a fashion statement, it actually generates seismic activity
as do those huge feet that allows elephants to communicate with one another on a
wide variety of subjects.
Elephants are likely the only large land-dwelling mammals that communicate using
seismic signals. So the next time you see an elephant with one leg slightly raised to
better ground his other three feet, he's probably on a conference call!
Source: The Elephant Sanctuary

This mole's nose, strangely enough, is not an organ of smell, but of touch. Surrounding
the nose are 22 tiny appendages that house around 100,000 touch receptors. The
human hand only has about 17,000 touch fibers, yet the entire star-shaped nose of this
little creature is smaller than a human fingertip.

Star Nosed Moles:

As the mole burrows underground, his tentacles sweep ahead like a high-speed broom.
When he swims underwater in search of prey, he exhales air bubbles that rest on
objects he is investigating. The bubbles collect odors that allow the mole to follow
underwater scent trails.
If you've ever heard the eerily beautiful howl of a wolf in the wild, you're unlikely to
forget it. And now research reveals that each wolf develops a vocal pitch that is uniquely
his own.
Wolves seem to howl for a variety of reasons -- to claim territory, to help find other
members of the pack, and because they just seem to enjoy it. Researchers have
observed that wolves wake up rather sluggishly, but after a collective howl, they rush off
all motivated to get things done.
Source: The Conversation

Seal whiskers track hydrodynamic trails left by passing fish, and researchers have
discovered that seals can pick up trails up to 35 seconds after a fish has passed. This
means that they use their whiskers as effectively as whales and dolphins use
echolocation to track prey.
Even in murky water, seals can extend their vibration-sensitive whiskers to pursue prey
as efficiently as if they were guided by sight.
Source: ScienceDaily

Creatures as tiny as the white-crowned sparrow and as large as a deer know when their
diet is lacking in important nutrients. They crave and go in search of food that provides
amino acids their body can't produce or store.
Source: Discover Magazine

Humans have about 10,000 taste buds, which seems like plenty... until you discover
there's an animal whose entire body is covered in taste buds the catfish. These rather
homely creatures named for their feline-like whiskers have more than 100,000 taste
buds. And some large catfish can have almost twice that many.
Tiny taste buds, which are actually sensory organs containing cells that detect flavor
molecules, are located all over the catfish's body, but primarily on the four sets of
whiskers around the mouth. The whiskers, along with the tens of thousands of taste
buds along their body, allow the fish to not only taste when dinner is close by, but also
pinpoint its exact location.
Source: LiveScience

Another critter covered in sensing apparatus is the earthworm. Chemoreceptors that

pick up chemical changes and also serve as taste buds cover an earthworm's entire
body.
Source: Discover Magazine

A snake's forked tongue is an incredibly complex receptor system. When the tongue is
flicked out, its receptors detect minuscule chemical particles, which are perceived as
scent. When the tongue is retracted into its sheath, the tips fit neatly into the Jacobson's
organ, which transmits the chemical information that has been gathered through the
tongue to the brain, where the snake can quickly act on it.
A snake's tongue must also detect and analyze information about nearby predators, as
well as potential mates.
Source: PetMD

1.

Rats (and common moles) have independently acting nostrils, which means they smell
things similar to the way humans hear things.
Researchers have discovered that when one of a rat's nostrils is covered, it loses the ability to
locate where a smell is coming from. This shows that they need both nostrils to locate smells,
and also that the nostrils send contrasting signals to the brain, despite the fact they are a mere 3
millimeters (0.12 inches) apart.
Source: Nature.com