magnetoreceptor
magnetoreceptor A device or organ that detects magnetic fields, particularly the earth's magnetic field. Some form of magnetic sense is found in a wide range of animals, including insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, but the nature of the magnetoreceptor organs remains elusive. Many species have in their brains small particles of the magnetic material magnetite, which are postulated to transduce the magnetic field into nervous impulses. The animal's photoreceptors may also be involved, and there is evidence to support this in various invertebrate and vertebrate species. One theory is that changes in electron spin resonance caused by the earth's magnetic field elicit nerve impulses. Certain fishes, particularly sharks and rays, use their electroreceptors as magnetoreceptors. This is possible because the animals themselves act as conductors moving through the magnetic field, and so generate electric currents, albeit very weak ones. Seawater is the conductor that completes the circuit and permits detection by the animal's own sense organs. Such a sense is exploited by the animals in navigating through the marine environment.
More From encyclopedia.com
electroreceptor , electroreceptor An organ specialized for detecting electric currents. Such organs are fairly common in marine fishes, which use them for detecting pr… Zoological Garden , As far back as the historical record goes, there is evidence of people keeping wild animals in cages. During the Middle Ages in Europe, rare and exot… Zoology , Education and Training: Doctoral degree
Salary: Median—$50,330 per year
Employment Outlook: Good
Zoologists are biological scientists who study anima… Animal , Animal
Animals are creatures in the kingdom Animalia, one of the five major divisions of organisms. They are multicelled, eukaryotic (pronounced yook… Animalia , The kingdom Animalia, or Metazoa, includes all animals. Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms, which are heterotrophic, meaning they obtain… Smell , Smell
Smell is the sense that enables an organism to detect airborne chemicals. It serves as a way of identifying, sorting out, and warning an organi…
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
magnetoreceptor