Times today Trajan S3

ANIMAL NAVIGATION
HOME SWEET HOMING: THE TRICKS OF ANIMAL NAVIGATION

Sea Turtle
New research shows that sea
turtles can apparently detect
and distinguish among the
magnetic fields in different
locations, enabling them to
compile a "magnetic map" for
navigating to specific feeding
and nesting areas.
they can use the Earth's
magnetic field as their own Humpback Whales
Global Positioning System Each year, whales migrate from Biomagnetite has been found
(GPS).Turtles, it is proposed Hawaii to the northern Pacific in the brains of whales and
that they have magnetite coast, and back. How do they dolphins, and it is widely
particles in the neural tissue of manage to find the tiny islands believed that marine mammals
their olfactory and inner ear, in that vast sea? Many use magnetism as well as sonar
which would enable them to researchers believe whales use to direct themselves during
sense magnetic field and use it biomagnetism to do this. We migration.
for navigation, similarly to birds. already know about lots of
animals and birds that use
magnetic material in their
bodies to help them
understand where they are.

Biomagnetism - Biomagnetism is the phenomenon of magnetic fields produced by living organisms

Sonar - Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, measure distances, communicate
1
Olfactory - relating to the sense of smell. ,
 Times today Trajan S3

ANIMAL NAVIGATION
HOME SWEET HOMING: THE TRICKS OF ANIMAL NAVIGATION

Bees
Bees use the Earth's magnetic
field, along with landmarks and
the sun's position, to find their
way around and locate food.
Bees have tiny magnetic
particles in their bodies,
especially in their abdomens.
These particles act like
compasses, helping bees sense
and follow the Earth's magnetic Mole Rats
field for navigation., helping Mole rats use the Earth's While the exact mechanisms
them navigate even when it's magnetic field for navigation, aren't fully understood, it's
cloudy or they're in a new just like other animals such as believed that their reliance on
place. This skill is really bees and sea turtles. They likely the Earth's magnetic field helps
important for bees to gather possess magnetoreceptors in them orient themselves in their
food and keep their colonies their brains, similar to other subterranean environment
running smoothly. animals, which help them where visual cues may be
detect the Earth's magnetic limited.
field. This ability aids mole rats
in navigating through their
underground tunnels and
locating food sources

Abdomen - the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis

subterranean - existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface. 2