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It's forked tongue.
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∙ 13y ago
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What is the purpose of the Jacobson's organ in snakes?
It's a 'sensory organ'. It basically takes the form of two 'pockets' in the roof of the snakes mouth. When the snake flicks out its tongue, microscopic scent particles stick to it. Withdrawing the tongue back into its mouth, the tips are inserted into the Jacobson's organ, and the snake's brain decodes the information.
Why snakes keep out their tongue?
Assuming you mean 'why do snakes flick out their tongue'... It's basically a sensory organ. The snake is 'tasting' the air. Each side of the the fork is independent from the other. When the snake flicks out its tongue, it collects microscopic scent particles from the air. Withdrawing the tongue into its mouth, there is a sensitive group of nerves in a 'pocket' where the snake inserts the tips. This translates the scent into messages for the snakes brain. The minuscule difference in strength of the scent on either side of the tongue enables the snake to follow the stronger scent to locate its prey.
Are there any snakes with antenna looking things on it's head?
No, no vertebrates have ever developed antennas. However, the snake's tongue behaves like an antenna in that it is forked and can sample the air (drawing the scent back into its mouth to do this as the tongue flicks in and out) with enough sensitivity to stalk prey. It can do this because its tongue is forked and it can differentiate the strength signal across the distance of the fork.
What animals have the Jacobson's organ?
The Jacobson's Organ - is a sensitive 'pit' located in the roof of a reptiles mouth. When a reptile flicks out it's tongue, tiny scent particles stick to it - and are drawn back into the mouth. the tips of the tongue are placed into the Jacobson's Organ, and the reptile 'analyses' the scent. This organ is so sensitive - it can even distinguish if the scent on one side of the forked tongue is stronger than the other side !
Do snakes breath out of there tongue?
No - Snakes breath with their lungs - just as every other air-breathing animal does!
How do snake talk to other snakes?
Probably scent. But of course, snakes do not "talk."
How do snakes smell with their tongues?
They use their tongues, with which they pick up particles and leave them to a special organ called vomeronasal organ.
How do male snakes locate females?
through scent
Where do cats have scent glands?
They have scent glands in the corners of their mouth and on their paw pads.
Why do snakes have there tongues out when they are searching for pray?
They don't ! They flick their tongue - which catches scent particles floating in the air. the tongue is withdrawn into the mouth, and the tips inserted into 'Jacobsons organ' - a sensitive area on the roof of the mouth.
Why do snakes smell with their forked tongue and not their nose?
A snake has a forked tongue because it evolved as a 'direction finding' sense over thousands of years. As a snake flicks its tongue, microscopic particles of scent stick to it. The tongue is pulled back into the mouth, and placed into the Jacobson's Organ - an area of very sensitive nerve cells. So sensitive that it can detect the microscopic variations from one half of the forked tongue to the other - telling the snake to 'go this way' to food !
How do snakes follow their prey?
They locate their prey either by scent or heat.
