Скачать или смотреть Why Dolphins & Whales Only Taste Salt—and Miss Toxic Clues

Dolphins and Whales Can Only Taste Salt The unique taste perception of cetaceans affects all species, including both toothed whales like orcas and baleen whales like humpbacks. The genetic basis for this lies in the deactivation of key taste receptor genes. For dolphins and whales, the genes responsible for detecting sweet, sour, bitter, and umami flavors have become 'pseudogenes'—genetic fossils that no longer function. Their ancestors, who transitioned from land to water, adapted to swallowing prey whole, which rendered complex taste detection unnecessary. While this was an efficient feeding adaptation, it carries modern risks. Their inability to taste bitterness means they cannot detect and avoid potentially harmful toxins or pollutants in their food, a growing concern in today's oceans.