Scientists have discovered that young dolphins have specialized receptors for detecting fatty acids in their mother’s milk. The findings, published in the journal Marine Mammal Science, provide important insights into how these marine mammals grow, feed, and communicate. The new findings challenge previous assumptions about cetacean sensory systems. A first experiment Unlike terrestrial mammals, dolphins and other marine mammals have limited olfactory capabilities – the sense of smell is largely non-functional in aquatic environments. Therefore, researchers speculated that dolphins had other ways to perceive their surroundings and detect food. Fat plays a crucial role in providing energy and supporting brain development in baby dolphins, who are entirely dependent on their…