The majority of fish species have sensitive lateral lines running diagonally across both sides of their bodies, which play a crucial role in their lives. These lateral lines are extremely sensitive to vibrations in the water, allowing fish to perceive their surrounding environment.
| Beneath the scales, fish possess sensitive lateral lines that significantly impact their lives (Photo: fssbirding) |
When other fish swim nearby or when they encounter obstacles, the water surrounding the fish generates vibrations. The lateral lines can detect even the slightest disturbances in the water flow, as well as sounds, since sound also travels through water.
Furthermore, in the dark depths of the ocean, where vision is limited, some fish have degenerated eyesight and must rely on their lateral lines to understand their surroundings. Thanks to these lateral lines, fish can navigate through rocky environments with ease.
The reason lateral lines have this remarkable capability is due to their complete nervous system structure. Along the outer lateral lines of a fish’s body, there are several small pores. These pores connect to lateral line canals beneath the skin, which are lined with numerous sensory cells. At the ends of the nerve fibers on these sensory cells, signals are transmitted to the brain via the lateral line nerves, creating a unified nervous network that allows the fish’s brain to promptly detect water wave movements and react quickly.
