Tiger's whiskers are pulse detectors

David Pescovitz 1:36 pm Tue Jun 18, 2013

Sierra Club magazine discusses "4 Ordinary Animals with Superhero Abilities." (Flight is not included.) My favorite tidbit is about a tiger's whiskers:

They are filled with sensitive nerve endings, which help them detect distances and changes in their surroundings. When tigers hunt, they go for the kill shot: the carotid artery located in the neck. After the tiger’s canines have pierced the artery, the whiskers move forward, encircling the prey’s neck, and determine if the prey’s pulse is gone.

Correction: Contrary to what the Sierra article says, the nerve endings aren't in the whiskers but rather the hair follicles.

"4 Ordinary Animals with Superhero Abilities"

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