Q: I smell with my tongue.  Who am I?

A: A Snake/Lizard!

Snakes use smell to track their prey. It smells by using its forked tongue to collect airborne particles then passing them to the Jacobson's organ or the Vomeronasal organ in the mouth for examination. The fork in the tongue gives the snake a sort of directional sense of smell and taste simultaneously. The snake keeps its tongue constantly in motion, sampling particles from the air, ground, and water analyzing the chemicals found and determining the presence of prey or predators in its local environment.

Want to learn about more amazing animals? Then sign up for science summer camp and Go Wild!

Leap into the wild on an awesome adventure to investigate interesting plants and amazing animals. Build a nature kit complete with binoculars, bug cage and telescope.  Stay a full day to take part in the Animal Olympics, make glowing fire flies and sticky octopus arms.