Name: Hamouda Wissal. Module: TTU. Group: 1B1.

Teacher: Boukadi Seghir.

2022-2023

Scientific Research About Snakes’ Sense of Smell.

Research question:

Like most creatures on earth, snakes have nostrils that they breathe through, but unlike humans

and other species, snakes do not use their nostrils for smelling; instead, they use their tongues,

which leads us to ask: “why do snakes smell with their tongues if they have nostrils?”

Hypothesis:

Snakes have a unique means of exploring the world around them: smell, or more specifically,

chemical sensing.

Data analysis:

According to new research, snakes smell with their tongues because they lack external nostrils,

a characteristic found in almost all other animals. To smell, they use a specialized form of

olfaction called “taste-smell”, which involves them sticking their forked tongues out and flicking

them quickly back and forth in order to capture chemosensory particles, which in turn give them
detailed information about the environment around them (“Snakes Can Smell With Forked

Tongues”,2016). “they are manipulating the air, bringing chemicals from the air or the

ground closer so they can figure out what kind of habitat they’re in, whether there are any

predators nearby, and what food items are around,” explained biologist William Ryerson. This

means that this sense of smell is incredibly important for snakes and helps them to do many of

their regular activities. The combination of chemical sensing and tactile orientation helps snakes

maneuver through their environment, find food and prey, and avoid predators. Thus, when a snake

smells with its tongue; it is not just smelling the air, but rather using its unique sensory organ to

interpret its environment and investigate with accuracy. For instance, when a snake is hunting for

food it uses its tongue to “taste” the environment and search for potential prey. This process is

known as “vomerolfaction” and is enabled by specialized receptors on the snake’s tongue that

collect tiny odor molecules and relay them to a pair of scent organs in the roof of its mouth. This is

because the tongue can pick up the specific chemical scent of the prey animal which will allow it

to accurately target the prey and commence with the hunt. Snakes are further equipped with the

benefit of this sense when it comes to avoiding predators, as they can pick up the smells of

potential predators and take preventive measures since the scent is indicative of potential danger.

Beyond the practical applications of the tongue-smell technique, scientists have also been

fascinated by the fact that snakes possess this innate ability, which is highly sophisticated and

believed to be quite rare among other species. It is thought that when a snake flicks its tongue out,

it is collecting small particles from the environment, much like a vacuum cleaner, and then

transferring these particles onto an organ located in its mouth called “Jacobson’s organ” where

the scent molecules are then processed.

Snakes also use their tongue for navigation. In addition to its chemical sensing ability, the tongue

plays an important role in helping the snake detect obstacles, even in the dark. The tongue carries

tiny dust particles that, when sensed by the Jacobson’s organ, can tell the snake the exact position

of a branch, a rock, or any other object.

Research shows that snakes have two types of olfactory organs (Snake Anatomy, 2012). The first

type is the vomeronasal or Jacobson organs, which are located in the back of the throat. These
organs have nerve endings which are sensitive to chemicals found in the air. The second type is

the lingual organ which is located at the tip of the snake’s tongue. This organ is responsible for

gathering minute amounts of odor particles from the environment and transferring them to the

vomeronasal organs for further processing.

The lingual organ of a snake is composed of two main components: a special nerve receptor called

the circumvallate papillae, and a series of small pits called taste buds. The circumvallate papillae

contain special nerve endings that are sensitive to small chemical particles in the environment,

such as pheromones, odors, and other airborne pollutants. The taste buds are tiny pits that cover

almost the entire surface of the tip of the snake’s tongue and secrete an enzyme called lingualase.

This enzyme breaks down the particles of the odor into smaller segments that are then transferred

to the circumvallate papillae and the vomeronasal organs.

Once the particles are broken down, they are evaluated in the vomeronasal organ. This organ is

able to identify the chemical composition of these particles and gain valuable data about the

environment, such as the presence of food, water, danger, and potential mates. By sampling its

environment with its tongue, a snake is able to analyze its immediate environment more efficiently

and accurately than if it had to rely solely on its eyes or ears.

Recent studies show that a snake’s sense of smell has also evolved to help it in other ways. Thanks

to this, species like the King Cobra can detect pheromones released by potential mates from long

distances, while rattlesnakes can use their environment as a chemical roadmap, allowing them to

zip and zoom through their surroundings. (“How Do Snakes Communicate -With Other Snakes

and Animals-?”, 2020)

Conclusion:

In conclusion, snakes are able to smell using their tongues because they lack functional

external nostrils common in other animals. It is believed that the tongue-smell technique is used

by them to collect chemosensory particles from the environment, which are subsequently

processed by the Jacobson’s organ in their mouths. This method of scent detection provides

detailed information to help snakes with hunting, avoiding predators, and finding mates. Scientists
 remain fascinated by this unique ability since it exemplifies the sophistication of the snake’s

anatomy and its advanced olfactory senses.

References

-Do snakes really smell with their tongues? (n.d.). AnimalSmart.org. Retrieved December 27, 2022,

from https://animalsmart.org/kids'-zone/do-snakes-really-smell-with-their-tongues

- How Do Snakes Communicate (with Other Snakes and Animals)? (2020, December 15). Snakes for

Pets. Retrieved December 27, 2022, from https://www.snakesforpets.com/how-do-snakes-

communicate/-

- Secrets of Snakes: The Science Beyond the Myths (Vol. 61). (2019). David A. Steen.

- Snakes. (n.d.). National Geographic. Retrieved December 27, 2022,

from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/snakes-1

- Snake Anatomy. (2012, February 3). Reptiles Magazine; Douglas Mader, M.S., DVM, DABVP.

Retrieved December 27, 2022, from https://reptilesmagazine.com/snake-anatomy/

-Snakes can smell with forked tongue. (2016, May 13). Burlington Free Press. Retrieved December

27, 2022, from https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2016/05/13/snakes-can-smell-

forked-tongue/84284976/?3F8ACA59-CC04-8C47-92D4-

84622A1F2EA9_kis_cup_C6FA3ED5_6D17_47D1_B6E2_F4B02CC905E0_

- Zug, George R.. "Jacobson’s organ". Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Apr. 2018,

https://www.britannica.com/science/Jacobsons-organ. Accessed 27 December 2022.