Chapter 18 - Sensory systems
Title
Chapter 18 - Sensory systems
Creator
Thewissen JGM; George JC; Suydam RS; Sformo TL
Publisher
The Bowhead Whale
Date
2021
2021-01-01
Description
The sensory biology of bowhead whales reflects features both related to their origin from land mammals and adaptations to their current environment, polar seas. There is anatomical and genomic evidence that bowheads have a sense of smell. Their sense of taste may be limited to detecting salty flavorants and there is no vomeronasal organ. They lack binocular vision and color vision, and it is likely that they can perceive the magnetic field. Similar to other mysticetes, their organ of hearing is adjusted to low frequencies. Their organ of balance is much smaller than could be expected when compared to land mammals, and the functional reason for this is unclear. Sensory hairs on the face may detect water current, and, when exposed to air, wind direction.
Subject
Bowhead whale; balance; olfaction; Balaena mysticetus; vision; audition; gustation; magnetosense; mechanosense
Rights
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Format
journalArticle
Search for Full-text
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Pages
273-284
NEOMED College
NEOMED College of Medicine
NEOMED Department
Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology
Update Year & Number
January 2021 List
Citation
Thewissen JGM; George JC; Suydam RS; Sformo TL, “Chapter 18 - Sensory systems,” NEOMED Bibliography Database, accessed March 19, 2024, https://neomed.omeka.net/items/show/11545.