Sharks are among the most streamlined and efficient hunters on Earth.
And they've honed all their senses into lethal weapons.
Sight, smell, taste, touch and sound.
But a shark not only sees and hears its prey...it can "feel" it.
First, many sharks have a sensory organ that runs the length of the shark's body and fans out on its head and jaw.
Called "the lateral line," it's full of nerves that pick up subtle vibrations and pressure changes in the water.
It is so finely tuned that, when combined with its other senses, a shark can detect prey from over a mile away.
Next, pores in the shark's head, called "ampullae of Lorenzini," are groups of sensory cells that can detect weak electrical charges such as the heartbeats or muscle movements of creatures hidden in sand.
Each ampulla is filled with a jelly-like substance that reacts to changes in pressure, temperature or electrical conductivity.
These pores are so sensitive that if two flashlight batteries were placed a thousand miles apart, and a single wire were strung between them, a shark could detect the charge.
When hunting for a meal, sharks may call upon all of their senses.
The distant sound of splashing might alert them to possible prey...or perhaps the scent of blood draws them in.
Closer in, their excellent eyesight may come into play.
Vision and ampullae of Lorenzini, along with smell and hearing, all function in unison to plot a deadly path.
A bone-crushing, artery-splitting bite satisfies the shark's sense of taste.
