By Sarah Currier on March 6, 2024

Photo: kylieellway/Depositphotos (Not a photo of the actual dolphins.)

A recent study has found that bottlenose dolphins are capable of sensing electric fields, becoming the third known mammal to do this.

Only a handful of mammals possess the “seventh sense” of detecting electrical fields. For years, this list has been solely limited to the platypus and the echidna. However, a recent study has found that the bottlenose dolphin is also capable of sensing these electric fields.

The study was conducted with two bottlenose dolphins from Nuremberg Zoo in Germany named Dolly and Donna. The animals were instructed to rest their jaws on platforms and swim away anytime they experienced a sensory cue, which included sounds, flashes of lights, and, once the dolphins were trained, electric signals. Incredibly, the pair of dolphins responded correctly on the first trial, indicating a great level of electric sensitivity—or electroreception. […]

Photo: PantherMediaSeller/Depositphotos (Not a photo of the actual dolphin.)

More: Recent Study Finds That Bottlenose Dolphins Have a Seventh Sense