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Manatee vibrissae: evidence for a "lateral line" function.

Roger L Reep1, Joseph C Gaspard, Diana Sarko

  • 1University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. reep@mbi.ufl.edu

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|May 4, 2011
PubMed
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Manatees use their numerous vibrissae (whiskers) to detect hydrodynamic stimuli, similar to fish. Their facial vibrissae are also crucial for tactile exploration of their environment.

Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Sensory Neuroscience
  • Mammalian Physiology

Background:

  • Aquatic mammals, like manatees, utilize vibrissae for sensing hydrodynamic stimuli.
  • The sensory systems of manatees, including their extensive vibrissae innervation, suggest a significant role in environmental perception.
  • Vibrissae sensitivity in aquatic animals is comparable to lateral line systems in fish and amphibians.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the sensory capabilities of manatee vibrissae for detecting hydrodynamic and tactile stimuli.
  • To compare manatee vibrissae sensitivity to other aquatic mammals and human tactile perception.
  • To differentiate the roles of facial versus postfacial vibrissae in sensory detection.

Main Methods:

  • Psychophysical testing to determine detection thresholds for grating textures.

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  • Assessment of hydrodynamic stimulus detection using facial and postfacial vibrissae.
  • Neuroanatomical examination of vibrissae-innervated brain regions.

    • Main Results:

    • Manatees exhibit a Weber fraction for texture detection comparable to human fingertip sensitivity.
    • Detection thresholds for hydrodynamic stimuli (5-150 Hz) using vibrissae are lower than those of harbor seals.
    • Facial and postfacial vibrissae detect hydrodynamic stimuli, while facial vibrissae are specialized for direct contact investigation.

    Conclusions:

    • Manatee vibrissae are highly sensitive mechanosensory tools crucial for navigating and interacting with their aquatic environment.
    • The extensive vibrissae system in manatees plays a vital role in both hydrodynamic sensing and tactile exploration.
    • Findings highlight the sophisticated sensory adaptations of manatees to their environment.