Zombies in The Walking Dead universe primarily identify humans through their heightened sense of smell.
According to Robert Kirkman, the creator of The Walking Dead, the ability of zombies to distinguish humans from other zombies or even inanimate objects is attributed to a form of "magic" that enhances their sense of smell. This allows them to track living humans based on their unique scent. The reference states:
Zombies in The Walking Dead are distinguished by their heightened sense of smell, allowing them to track humans based on scent.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Primary Sense | Smell |
| Method of Tracking | Identifying and following the scent of living humans |
| Explanation | Heightened olfactory senses enhanced by a "magical" element within the lore |
Essentially, zombies in The Walking Dead use their strong sense of smell to differentiate the scent of living humans from everything else, allowing them to effectively hunt and track their prey.
