Glossary · 🦎 Anatomy & biology

Jacobson's organ

Also called: Vomeronasal organ

Jacobson's organ (the vomeronasal organ) is a scent-detecting organ in the roof of the mouth that reptiles use to "taste" the air — which is why snakes and many lizards flick their tongues.

A tongue-flicking snake or a bearded dragon licking objects is gathering chemical information about its world, not being aggressive. It's completely normal exploratory behaviour.

See also

Heat pits

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