Shark Senses: How Sharks Hunt and Survive
Updated: January 2026
Introduction
Perfectly evolved over 500 million years and surviving five mass extinctions, sharks are true apex predators. But what gives them their edge? It’s not just teeth and speed, it’s a suite of refined senses that enable sharks to detect prey long before most animals even realize there’s something in the water.
Here’s a refreshed look at each of the shark senses, from long-range to close-range detection, updated with newer science and structured for clarity, so you see how sharks hunt, why each sense matters, and what you can actually observe when diving.
Long-Range Senses
Hearing
Sharks are tuned in to low-frequency sounds. Think splashing, struggling fish, or injured prey. Often well before prey enters visual range, sharks can pick up hints of movement from over a kilometer away, especially in calm, clear waters.
Smell (Olfaction)
They really do “smell” like legends say. Sharks detect amino acids in water at extremely low concentrations; some studies suggest detection thresholds as fine as one part per 20 million. This allows sharks to follow chemical trails and locate prey that’s hidden or far off.
Mid-Range Senses
Vision
Contrary to myths, sharks’ eyes aren’t just for show. Sharks have limited color vision but strong visual acuity in black-and-white contrast, motion detection, and low light conditions. Murkier water or dusk/dawn light can reduce clarity, but their eyes are adapted well for those conditions.
Lateral Line – Mechanosense
The lateral line system is a series of fluid-filled canals running along each side of the shark’s body, opening via pores in the skin. It detects pressure changes and vibrations in the water, like the ripple of a fish’s tail or the motion of swimming prey.
Close-Range Senses
Electroreception (Ampullae of Lorenzini)
One of the most fascinating shark senses. These small, gel-filled pores, especially concentrated around the snout, detect weak electrical fields generated by living prey, even when it’s hidden in sand or under substrate. Most effective within about a meter.
Touch & Taste
Why These Senses Matter for Divers and Conservation
Conclusion
From hearing faint sounds to smelling tiny concentrations of blood, sharks rely on a full sensory toolkit to hunt, navigate, and survive. Your dive becomes richer when you see these senses in action, when you realize that a shark investigating something isn’t aggression, but nature’s sensory system at work.
Protecting shark populations means protecting habitat quality, water clarity, prey abundance, and everything that supports these senses. Because the sharper a shark’s senses, the better its chance to survive — and the greater the magic we get to witness in underwater encounters.
Read more about shark sense from the Shark Trust.
FAQs
Usually hearing or smell — these long-range senses alert sharks to possible prey before vision or electroreception move in closer.
Yes, under right conditions. Concentration, water flow, and proximity matter most.
No. Different species excel in different senses. For example, hammerheads have more ampullae of Lorenzini, reef sharks have good low-light vision, pelagic sharks rely heavily on smell and hearing.
Yes. Noise pollution can mask sounds sharks use to locate prey; chemical pollution can interfere with smell and taste. These are growing areas of concern in conservation science.
This was very helpful for information about sharks expecally to do a 5 paragraph essay.
Thanks so much for checking out our site and glad you found the article helpful!
Thanks for the info it really helped with my research oaper on how sharks hunt.
Glad it helped!!
Thanks for the help if it was not for you making this i couldn’t do it
Thanks for checking out the blog!
Thank you fore the helpful information it really helped me??❤️
Happy you found the information helpful!
Thanks for the comments everyone!
cool. i’m studying sharks today
Great! Hope you find the post helpful. There’s another on Shark Vision too! Check it out 🙂
Concise and helpful.
Glad you found the article helpful and thanks for checking out our website!
lol, I have to do a summary of how sharks hunt 🙂
That’s great! I hope you found the article helpful 🙂
Hi😅
Thanks for checking out our blog!
Thanks this will help me a lot in my research.
Glad you liked the article and thanks for checking out our blog!
I am writing my research and i need the organization responsible for the website. Where can i find it.
Thanks for checking out our blog and glad to hear the article was helpful in your project. Here’s the citation:
Canabal, Vincent. “Shark Senses – How Do Sharks Hunt Their Prey?” Epic Diving, 15 Aug. 2018, http://www.epicdiving.com/shark-senses-hunting.
thanks
Glad you liked the article!
this is definitllay helpful for a 7 slide project thanks
Great! Thanks for checking out our site 🙂
but for my slides i need to write down who the publisher is and i dont see it
Sure thing! Here’s the citation:
Canabal, Vincent. “Shark Senses – How Do Sharks Hunt Their Prey?” Epic Diving, 15 Aug. 2018, http://www.epicdiving.com/shark-senses-hunting.
you have no email address for a reaserch paper
Hi Bob! Not sure what you mean? Our email address is info@epicdiving.com
could you pls add a video i need lots of more detail this is not enough for my project
I’m not sure we’re planning to add any more to this blog any time soon. I would search for other resources 🙂