Super Senses: The Secret Power of Animals Season 1 Episode 3 Scent
- September 2, 2014
-
(11)
Super Senses: The Secret Power of Animals is an intriguing documentary series that explores the incredible abilities of various animals, from their heightened senses to their unique skills and behaviors. In season 1 episode 3, titled Scent, viewers are taken on a journey into the world of animal olfaction - the sense of smell.
The episode begins by introducing us to some familiar animals with powerful noses, such as dogs and pigs. We learn about their ability to detect and recognize scents, from drugs and explosives to truffles and other delicacies. But as the episode progresses, we are shown that many other animals also rely heavily on their sense of smell for survival.
We are introduced to a group of African wild dogs and discover that their sense of smell is so acute that they can track prey over long distances by following their scent. We also learn about the African elephant, which has the largest olfactory system of any mammal and can detect water sources from miles away.
Next, the episode focuses on some smaller animals with impressive olfactory abilities. We meet the star-nosed mole, a strange-looking creature with a bizarre star-shaped nose that it uses to sniff out its prey in underground tunnels. We also learn about the Tasmanian devil, which can smell out its next meal from over a kilometer away.
As the episode progresses, viewers are taken on a tour of different habitats, each with its own unique smells that animals must distinguish to survive. For example, we visit the Great Barrier Reef and learn about the amazing sense of smell of the lemon shark, which can detect a drop of blood in 10 million drops of water.
The show also explores the use of scent in animal communication. We meet the African elephant again, and this time we see how they use their sense of smell to communicate with each other across long distances, potentially warning each other of danger or finding a mate. Similarly, we learn about the scent marking behaviors of various predators and how they use their sense of smell to establish territories and communicate with other members of their species.
Throughout the episode, scientists and experts weigh in on the various animals and their sense of smell, giving insight into the research that has gone into understanding these amazing abilities. The show makes it clear that despite our general lack of awareness, the sense of smell is an incredibly important tool in the animal kingdom, one that has helped countless species survive over millions of years of evolution.
Overall, Super Senses: The Secret Power of Animals season 1 episode 3 is a fascinating look at the incredible sense of smell possessed by various animals, and the ways in which they use it to survive and thrive in their environments. The show is sure to amaze and surprise viewers with the incredible abilities of the animal kingdom, and leave them with a new appreciation for the many ways in which animals are far more complex and capable than we often realize.