How do snakes detect their prey?

Snakes rely on a combination of sensory adaptations to detect prey. Many species use their highly developed sense of smell, aided by their forked tongue, to pick up chemical signals in the air. The Jacobson’s organ, located in the roof of their mouth, processes these signals, helping them locate prey even in complete darkness. Some snakes, like pythons and pit vipers, have heat-sensitive pits near their mouths to detect the body heat of warm-blooded animals. This combination of chemical and thermal sensing makes them highly effective hunters.