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How do ampullae help sharks locate prey?

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Shortfin mako shark swimming in clear blue water near the surface off the West Coast of New Zealand, mouth slightly open showing teeth. — shark Shortfin mako shark (*Isurus oxyrinchus*), found throughout tropical and temperate seas worldwide.

Sharks locate prey using specialized sensory organs called ampullae of Lorenzini, which are found primarily on the head and snout. These organs function through electroreception, the ability to detect the weak bioelectric fields naturally produced by the gills, gut, and skin wounds of other organisms.1234

The ampullae consist of a network of gel-filled canals that open to the surface through tiny pores. This gelatinous substance is highly conductive, allowing minute electrical stimuli to reach clusters of sensitive electroreceptor cells located in bulb-shaped chambers beneath the skin. When a shark encounters these electrical signals, the voltage changes trigger nerve impulses that travel to the central nervous system.214

This system is particularly effective at short range, allowing sharks to detect and capture prey even when it is hidden in sand, mud, or murky water where vision is limited. It is often the final sensory system used to guide a shark toward its target just before capture.1245