Advantages of Split Language
1994/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
According to Aristotle, split tongue snakes are twice as tasteful, but the truth is that they did not know why the tongue had that shape. However, recently the scientist at the University of Connecticut in the United States, Kurt Schwenk, has unveiled the mystery. This type of sole is a powerful chemical detector that collects the remains of pheromones that have left both prey and fellow species.
Odor molecules stick to the tongue and through two pathways reach through the palate up to two olfactory organs of the nose, called bomeronasal organs. Thus, the snake detects at the same time a chemical gradient between two points and can absorb the prey without a blow. It can be said that it has relief smell.
