What animal has the best sense of smell?

The animal with the world's best sense of smell has been named, along with nine other contenders. read more

Sense of smell differs among animals, with some having keener abilities than others, according to a new study whose authors name the top 10 animals with the most genes devoted to smelling. The study, published in the journal Genome Research, highlights how an animal's genetic makeup can underlie its ability to distinguish different odors. read more

Some animals have an extremely selective sense of smell and surpass others in the detection of a particular odor. Elephants, both African and Asian, have a superior sense of smell when it comes to water, and particularly to underground water. read more

The bloodhound has the best sense of smell of any dog. Its nose has 40 times more scent receptors than a human nose – they have been referred to as ‘a nose with a dog attached’. Bears have noses that trump even that. A polar bear can smell a seal that is buried under a metre (3.2 feet) of snow from over a kilometre (0.6 miles) away! Mammals generally have the best noses. read more