How do snakes sense their prey without ears?

Snakes sense prey using specialised adaptations, including their ability to detect vibrations and heat. Although they lack external ears, they have an inner ear structure that picks up ground vibrations. Pit vipers, pythons, and boas have heat-sensitive pits on their faces that detect infrared radiation from warm-blooded animals, even in complete darkness. They also use their forked tongues to sample airborne particles, which are analysed by the Jacobson’s organ, allowing them to “taste” the air and track prey.