Magnetic Sense (Magnetoreception) In Fish
While human science is only just discovering the basis of magnetoreception in fish, the current evidence suggests that fish have been using it for some time.
Two species, which are now believed to sense the Earth’s magnetic field and make use of this information in their lives, are yellow-fin tuna and Atlantic Salmon. Both of these species make long journeys through the open ocean.
Yellow Fin Tuna have been scientifically observed to respond to the Earth’s magnetic field and in 1984 magnetite crystals were found in the Dermethoid Bone Sinus of this species. Then in 1990, magnetite crystals were also found in the lateral line system of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and in the head of the Rainbow Trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss).
The ability of animals to detect the Earth’s magnetic field – and to use information gained in this way – is an active field of research at the moment. Undoubtedly the future will answer questions such as:
- Can fish remember magnetic locations and find their way back to them?
- Does a magnetic sense play a role in the occurrence of beaching whales? Or are they simply trying to bring to our attention the fact that (or have been driven insane by the fact that) we are polluting and destroying the world’s seas and oceans?
