Survival for the fittest you have probably heard this phrase at some point. However, it does not always correspond to strength. Other attributes have to come into play to enable the success of that species. A super sense of smell or olfactory prowess is one of those attributes. Continuing on with our series on animal sentinels we explore the animals that possess this super power.
How do animals smell?
Air is first drawn into the nostrils and passes through the nasal cavity. The walls of the nasal cavity are filled with numerous nerve endings. Each nerve ending is equipped with a complex folded protein called a receptor that is configured to fit precisely with molecules of one particular shape, like a lock and key. A perfect fit triggers a nerve impulse to the olfactory bulb in the brain where the information is processed. The animal can then know where to find food, locate predators or find a mate.
The sentinel
Well, there is no better place to start than by looking at the animal with the biggest nose, the elephant. The elephants sense of smell is in constant use with the trunk, most of the time, moving back and forth to detect new scents and process the information. Once a scent is draw into the nostrils there is a series of seven olfactory turbinals located in the nasal cavity.
Turbinals are curls of bone that have millions of olfactory receptor cells.
To demonstrate just how exceptional an elephants sense of smell is , picture this. If someone presents you with two meal plates you can easily tell which is the larger quantity using your eyes. Now imagine doing the same using only your nose. Practically impossible right? But not for elephants. Scientists from the educational sanctuary in Thailand presented six Asian elephants with two opaque buckets containing different ratios of sunflower seeds. The elephants could not see the quantity but could smell using holes in the lids. 59-82% of the time they chose the bucket with the greatest quantity. The full report was published in the report was published in the proceedings of the national academy of sciences.
Elephants are known to have the most number of genes associated with olfactory reception. More than mans best friend, the dog. Elephants have 2000 receptors while dogs have 811 and humans 400. Their sense of smell helps them detect food and water from 19.2 km away.
Elephants have more olfactory receptors than any other mammal.
The elephant’s cerebellum, which plays an important role in sensory processing is 18.6% of an elephants brain mass, compared to 10.3% in humans. This translates to a unique integration of multiple sensory abilities. The elephant exceptional sense of smell is not only linked to food. It helps them keep of track of out of sight family members through urine left behind. Scents left behind by bulls make other bulls aware of their state of dominance. When in a herd scents can also be used to communicate the elephants emotional state to others.
Elephants also possess a vomeronasal organ, a separate chemoreceptive organ found in some olfactory systems that is used for specialized recognition of non-volatile chemicals. This organ can be used to detect odors that are transmitted through urine or the temporal gland, which may provide information about an elephant’s dominance or emotional state (Ball et al., 2022).
The elephant’s remarkable sense of smell is not just an impressive trait but a crucial survival tool, enabling these gentle giants to navigate their complex environments and social structures. As we continue to uncover and understand the intricacies of animals' sensory capabilities, it becomes clear how each attribute, beyond mere physical strength, plays a role in their survival. Elephants are a testament to the idea that "survival of the fittest" encompasses much more than physical power; it includes the extraordinary, sometimes invisible, tools that animals use to interpret and respond to the world around them.
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