Journal of the sixtninth day on board

10th July, 1999

A shark's seven senses

Sharks have the same five senses as man, i.e. touch, sight, smell, hearing and taste. But they also have 2 more unknown to us.

The sixth sense is a type of 'touching at a distance'. Thanks to two "lateral lines", one on each side of the body, sharks are able to perceive tiny differences in the pressure of the water due to the movements of their prey, even at a distance of 100 metres.

The seventh sense consists of the ability to perceive electric fields across the certain facial pores (the so-called "ampolle del Lorenzini"). Sharks are also able to sense the electric fields of their prey, and in the final phase of their attack, are uniquely guided by this "radar".

PS: We are still here, at Lampedusa.