Evolution has helped every species on earth to survive all major and minor natural transitions over the course of time.Each animal evolved with the exact abilities required to serve the purpose of its survival. So, in the modern world, many animals have astonishingly advanced senses for finding their meals, sensing danger from a great distance, or moving in darkness without eyesight.One of the many senses that evolved in an animal is smell. The ability to smell from a wide range gives an advantage to both predators and the prey to play fair in their roles. Smell is not only used when hunting or for surviving, but smell is also a way of finding a suitable mate. Smell is an essential sense for many species to survive and continue their legacy.If you enjoyed this article, why not also know about what animal has the strongest sense of smell and what animal is a Leo here on Kidadl!Which animal has the best sense of smell and why?Current surveys have shown that African elephants have the best sense of smell.The scent receptors of an African elephant’s nostrils are five times more sensitive than humans such that they can detect a water source from miles away. According to the scientist, an African elephant has the best sense of smell as they have over 2000 genes linked to their olfactory receptors for a superior sense of smell and that is twice the sensory perception of smell in dogs. African elephants have the strongest scent receptors in the entire animal kingdom. The genes linked with olfactory receptors are mostly near the long trunk of elephants and the edge of the trunk is considered the nose of elephants because they detect the scent or odor molecules from the edge of their trunks.What animals cannot smell?Various assumptions are made regarding the general characteristics of many animals which include their sense of smell.But there is a section of animals that cannot sense any kind of scent or odors. It has been concluded from studies on various animals and their genes that primates do not have sensitive noses. Most primates possess poor sensory genes and cannot detect scent in their environment. Animals like elephants, rats, dogs, bears, and bloodhounds have some of the most incredible noses and an amazing sense in the whole animal kingdom, even more than humans. These animals can detect a scent from a considerable distance and have a good sense of taste as well. But some animals like guinea pigs, whales, and dolphins cannot smell because they do not have any kind of genes related to the sense of smell.What is the least smelliest pet?Small pets like rats, snakes, and chinchillas are among the least smelly pets. The cleanest pets are rabbits.Rabbits are more adorable than cats and need very little effort than other animals like dogs or birds. They give out so little smell that you can tell if they are sick from the odor.Cats on the other hand are good self-cleaners but odors from their litter box can drive you crazy.If you have a pet dog then its odors might be a big problem in your household. Smelly pets can make the environment a little uneasy to live so it is very essential to clean your pet at regular intervals as the a pet can develop smelly odors if not kept clean properly.We assume that animals, like a dog or a cat, can live without human help. However because they are pets, they are accustomed to us cleaning and taking care of them. They could have lived in the wilderness, similar to bears or snakes. As pets, they provided with great care by their owners, and without proper cleaning or grooming they may develop certain odors which do not smell nice. Such odors can also indicate diseases so it is important to pay attention and book an appointment with a vet if you think your pet has started to smell differently.Are hedgehogs smelly?Hedgehogs are naturally odorless animals. In fact, they give out a comforting organic scent that is pleasing to the nose.But they can be smelly due to some external environmental factors. So if a pet hedgehog smells bad then the surrounding is to be blamed. Usually, a hedgehog does not smell bad but if its habitat is not cleaned regularly then it can stink.The waste products of hedgehogs can stink very badly if kept uncleaned for a longer period. Also, hedgehogs might walk on or taste their own waste which in turn transfers the odor to hedgehogs. To keep your pet odorless, its cage should be cleaned regularly and it should be given baths at regular intervals.Other reasons for hedgehogs to stink can be their health issues. Odors from a hedgehog in a clean habitat can indicate that it is suffering from sickness. It should be immediately taken to a vet for a check-up. Unhealthy food or malnutrition can also be the reason for your hedgehog becoming smelly. To prevent this, make sure you give your hedgehog a balanced and healthy diet.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for What animal has the strongest sense of smell? A tell-all tale on sense then why not take a look at Do stink bugs fly? Curious question on stink bugs answered! or Do stick bugs bite? Amazing leaf insects explained for kids!
Evolution has helped every species on earth to survive all major and minor natural transitions over the course of time.
