Animals - Animal types and traits - Snakes - Reptiles - Animal anatomy
Why do snakes keep sticking out their tongues?
Correct!
When a snake sticks out its tongue, it collects tiny chemical particles from the air and surfaces. It then brings these substances to the vomeronasal organ or Jacobson's organ. The chemical information is evaluated there. This allows snakes to track down prey or perceive signals from potential mating partners. The forked tip of the tongue helps determine the direction of a scent trail. The flickering of the tongue is therefore primarily part of its perception and does not mean that the snake is thirsty or aggressive.
Tongue and Jacobson's organ form an important additional chemical sensory system.
