I remembered being taught about the 5 senses at school. I was surprised to discover that in the mean time scientists have added another 5 to the list.
- Balance and acceleration
- Temperature
- Kinesthetic sense
- Pain
- Other internal senses – a sense which is stimulated within the body
And to top that off, some animals have some really cool senses, we humans lack
- Electroreception – able to detect electric fields (some fish, sharks and dolphins)
- Magnetoception – able to detect direction using the earth’s magnetic field (typically observed in birds – so that’s how migratory birds do it!)
- Pressure detection – within the gas bladder organ of a fish to help it regulate buoyancy
- Current detection – enables fish to navigate, hunt and hang around in schools
- Polarized light direction – an orientation ability found in bees, helping them to navigate on cloudy days
- Slit sensillae – enables a spider to detect mechanical strain in the exoskeleton, helping them to sense force and vibration
Check out Wiki for definitions and examples
That’s actually really interesting about the five extra senses. That’ll change the way I think about things, for sure.
In a way I was surprised, but not surprised to find this out. I wish I had some of that electro reception, so that when I snorkeled in shark infested waters I’d have an internal warning alarm!
Marti