Magnetosensitivity is widespread among animals with rodents being the most intensively studied mammalian group. The available behavioural assays for magnetoreception are time-consuming, which impedes screens for treatment effects that could characterize the enigmatic magnetoreceptors. Here, we present a fast and simple approach to test if an animal responds to magnetic stimuli: the magnetic object assay (MOA). The MOA focuses on investigating an animal's spontaneous exploration behaviour in the presence of a bar magnet compared to a demagnetised control. We present consistently longer exploration of the magnet in three different rodent species: Ansell's mole-rat (Fukomys anselli), C57BL/6J laboratory mouse, and naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber). For the naked mole-rat this is the first report that this species reacts on magnetic stimuli. We conclude that the MOA holds the potential to screen if an animal responds to magnetic stimuli, indicating the possession of a magnetic sense.

Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Kamýcká 129 165 21 Prague 6 Czech Republic

Department of General Zoology Faculty of Biology University of Duisburg Essen 45117 Essen Germany

Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Branišovská 1760 370 05 České Budějovice Czech Republic

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