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
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
Latest Answers