chemoreception
/ˌkimoʊrɪˈsɛpʃən/
noun
- The ability of an organism to detect chemicals in its environment, such as through taste or smell.
- Humans use chemoreception when they smell a flower or taste a lemon.
- Insects rely on chemoreception to find food and mates.
- Sharks have an extremely sensitive chemoreception that helps them detect blood in the water.