Olfaction: underwater 'sniffing' by semi-aquatic mammals.
Terrestrial species that forage underwater face challenges because their body parts and senses are adapted for land--for example, it is widely held that mammals cannot use olfaction underwater because it is impossible for them to inspire air (sniff) to convey odorants to the olfactory epithelium. Here I describe a mechanism for underwater sniffing used by the semi-aquatic star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) and water shrew (Sorex palustris). While underwater, both species exhale air bubbles onto objects or scent trails and then re-inspire the bubbles to carry the smell back through the nose. This newly described behaviour provides a mechanism for mammalian olfaction underwater.
Catania
Kenneth C
KC
Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B, Box 35-1634, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA. ken.catania@vanderbilt.edu
D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005399:Fishes; D001239:Inhalation / Q000502:physiology; D008971:Moles / Q000502:physiology*; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis; D009835:Oligochaeta; D012119:Respiration; D012788:Shrews / Q000502:physiology*; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000502:physiology; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D014867:Water