I suppose this more relates to fish/crustaceasn. Compared to other land based creatures? Is it related to them evolving in the ocean. Do mammalian based sea creatures smell as bad?
In: Biology
Fish (any many other sea critters) have a special chemical called TMAO that helps them regulate how salty their bodies are. When they are taken out of the water, TMAO converts to TMA (Through a process called carboxylation), which smells “fishy”.
I have no idea if sea mammals have TMAO, but I would assume not, since they went from the sea to the land and then back to the sea.
I think it comes from amines which are produced when things start to decay. Land based creatures and birds have a method for recycling or packaging excess nitrogen into urine or uric acid whereas sea creatures and amphibians typically depend on releasing concentrated ammonia into the water. Fresh fish doesn’t really have a smell but when it starts to decay the ammonia turns into nitrates and amines giving it the distinct smell. It’s probably that coupled with their antimicrobial slime layer. I’ve also read that plankton are a main source of the smell, even if the fish in question isn’t ingesting plankton it’s eating other fish that are. But I’m not 100% on that, a lot of mammals eat plankton and don’t replicate the same distinct smell
Is it more smelly, or is it just an unfamiliar smell? Maybe you are nose blind to the smell of land creatures because you are one and you live on land (I assume!). If you think about it, cows are pretty stinky and some of that is in their meat as well. Wild animals have a stronger “gamy” smell/taste.
Anyway there are probably some great explanations of the chemistry and biology of what creates the fishy smell. But I wouldn’t take it as fact that fish are more smelly than other creatures.
Latest Answers