Electroreception and electrogenesis are the closely related biological abilities to perceive electrical stimuli and to generate electric fields. Both are used to locate prey; stronger electric dischar
Hans Lissmann discovered electroreception in 1950 through his observations of Gymnarchus niloticus.
For the elephantfish, the electric organ in the tail (blue) generates an electric field (cyan). This is sensed by electroreceptors in the skin, including two electric pits (foveas) to actively search and inspect objects. Shown are the field distortions created by two different types of objects: a plant that conducts better than water (green) and a non-conducting stone (brown).
Electric eels create electric fields powerful enough to stun prey using modified muscles. Some weakly electric knifefishes appear to mimic the electric eel's discharge patterns; this may be Batesian mimicry, to deceive predators that they are too dangerous to attack.
Platypus
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The platypus, sometimes referred to as the duck-billed platypus, is a semiaquatic, egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. The platypus is the sole living representative of
Electroreception and electrogenesis
…their ampullae of Lorenzini, but other non-homologous electroreceptors have repeatedly evolved, including in two groups of mammals, the monotremes (platypus and echidnas) and the cetaceans (Guiana dolphin). In 1678, while doing dissections of sharks, the Italian physician Stefano Lorenzini discovered organs…
Duck billed platypus Scottsdale
A book for children published in Germany in 1798
Illustration from the first scientific description in 1799
Colour print from 1863