Which animal is known to use the Earth's magnetic field for navigation?

Study for the NCEA Level 3 Biology – Plant and Animal Responses (AS91602) Test. Prepare with structured flashcards and detailed multiple-choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations to help you succeed. Get exam-ready today!

Sea turtles are known to use the Earth's magnetic field for navigation during their long migratory journeys across oceans. They possess specialized sensory mechanisms that allow them to detect the magnetic fields and use this information to orient themselves and navigate accurately to their feeding and nesting grounds. This ability is crucial for their survival, as they often travel thousands of kilometers between breeding and feeding sites.

In contrast, while salmon have been shown to use a combination of magnetic cues and environmental landmarks to navigate, sea turtles are particularly noted for their reliance on the Earth's magnetic field as a primary navigation tool. Humans generally navigate using tools like maps and compasses rather than sensing the magnetic field directly, while frogs are not known to utilize magnetic fields for navigation.

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