reptile senses
Posted by John Swanson Jr on March 30, 2006
Q: Alligators have bumps on the sides of their face that allow them to sense movement and snakes can smell with their tongues. Are there any other interesting sense organs that specific reptiles possess?
A: Ooh, I had to think a bit on this one but I did come up with an interesting one. Some snakes such as the rattlesnakes, have special organs that can sense infrared radiation. These animals can detect the heat given off by animals and are sensitive enough to register temperature differences of as little as 2/1000 of a degree and home in on their prey even in complete darkness. I'm sure there must be some others but none comes to mind at the moment. Thanks for asking.
John Wiessinger ( March 31, 2006)