HYDROMANTES PLATYCEPHALUS
One distinct fact about this salamander is that it possesses enhanced chemoreceptors on its nasolabial groove Chemoreceptors detect chemical stimuli, a perfect example being taste buds. In this species, Volatile chemical stimuli enter the nose and eventually reach the olfactory cleft (where the main olfactory epithelium is located). Embedded in the olfactory epithelium are three types of cells: supporting, basal, and olfactory sensory neurons. While all three types of cells are integral to the olfactory pathway, only OSN cells make contact with the stimulus. After the stimulus is received by the cilia protruding from the OSNs, the signal activates an action potential with then travels through the bony cribiform plate to the glomeruli within the olfactory bulb. While the proximity of the olfactory cleft to the brain is close, the signals are often slow to illicit response and often require numerous molecules to trigger the corresponding action potential. In insects, antennae act as distance chemoreceptors. For example, antennae on moths are made up of long feathery hairs that increase sensory surface area. Each long hair from the main antenna also has smaller sensilla that are used for volatile olfaction. Since moths are mainly nocturnal animals, the development of greater olfaction aids them in navigating the night.