Can Otters Smell Underwater?
A long-running debate about whether otters can smell underwater may be close to being solved by a wildlife expert who conducted an experiment on camera for a BBC program. Many scientists believe that semi-aquatic mammals such as otters hunt fish using only touch and sight, but research out four years ago showed that some moles could use smell to track down their prey.
Now Charlie Hamilton James, a wildlife photographer who has watched otters for 20 years, believes he is one step closer to proving that otters can do the same. The findings, which will be shown as part of “Halcyon River Diaries” on Sunday evening (BBC One 6pm), could be a huge step forward in understanding more about how these rare and elusive creatures hunt.
In 2006 scientists proved that star-nosed moles could smell underwater.
It was the first time mammals had been known to have this ability. By exhaling bubbles and sniffing those back in the star-nosed mole could analyze any scent in the water around it.
It appears the otters Hamilton James filmed could be doing the same.
He set out to prove his theory by placing a dead trout next to a submerged camera in the river in his garden.
Source: tehrantimes.com
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