Do Animals Have A Sixth Sense?

Quick Take

• Sharks carry a biological sensor that detects something no human instrument can replicate, and this ability has nothing to do with smell. Discover sharks' hidden sense →
• Some animals started fleeing a disaster zone days before scientists had any warning it was coming. See animals' early warnings →
• The 2004 southeast Asian tsunami killed hundreds of thousands of people, yet wildlife told a very different story. Explore the tsunami wildlife story →
• Rats, chickens, and snakes may share an ability that has puzzled scientists for centuries, and it is not one of the five senses you learned in school. Uncover the earthquake-sensing animals →

It is commonly known that animals have five main senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing with the possible inclusion of balance. But is there really such a thing as having a sixth sense?

Most species of shark have sensors on the sides of their heads, which the sharks use to detect tiny muscle movements from creatures nearby. This “sixth sense” is known as electroreception and allows sharks to detect electromagnetic fields produced by all animals.

For centuries now, it has also been questioned as to whether certain species of animal including rats, chickens, and snakes have the ability to detect earthquakes! These animals have to been known to leave earthquake zones up to days before the earthquake arrives, with this behavior also being displayed more recently during the devastating tsunami in southeast Asia in 2004 where there were very few wild animals harmed.

If you would like to read more about the studies into the sixth sense of animals please see:

• How Did Animals Escape the Tsunami?
• Can Animals Sense Earthquakes?