Question

One method snakes use to locate prey is to flick their tongue in the air and then draw their tongue across the roof of their mouth. In this method, the function of the tongue is to

A) generate heat for temperature regulation
B) aid in swallowing large prey
C) detect vibrations in the environment
D) collect chemicals in the air

Answer 1

Snakes collect chemicals in the air with their tongues to locate prey, using the Jacobson's organ to analyze these chemical signals.

Step-by-step explanation:

Snakes use their tongues as a sensory tool to detect prey. When a snake flicks its tongue in and out, it is collecting chemicals in the air which it then analyzes by pressing its tongue against the roof of its mouth where the Jacobson's organ is located. This organ is sensitive to these chemical signals, allowing the snake to identify and locate its prey.

Heat-sensing organs on some snakes' heads also aid in locating endothermic prey, such as small mammals and birds, by sensing the heat they emit.