Scientists have learned that when it comes to having the best sense of smell, it’s African elephants, not dogs, that lead the pack.
Scientists have learned that when it comes to having the best sense of smell, it’s African elephants, not dogs, that lead the pack.
In fact, of the 13 mammalian species studied, the large animals were found to have the most olfactory genes of all.
The study, from researchers at the University of Tokyo, revealed that elephants have almost 2000 of them.
That’s more than twice as many as are found in dogs and 5 times the number humans have.
What the pachyderms use them all for remains a mystery.
It’s guessed that they serve some vital function specific to their African environments, like finding mates, locating food, or sniffing out dangers.
Not surprising to the researchers is the fact that the animals developed such an advanced system.
Said one of the study’s authors, “Imagine having a nose on the palm of your hand. Every time you touch something, you smell it.”
Amazing though their noses are, it’s unlikely elephants will ever replace dogs on search missions.
Aside from the obvious reasons, it is unknown if having more genes actually translates to increased olfactory ability whereas dogs are able to pick up very faint scents and follow the trail.
