Rawson points out that although snakes can't taste, they have a primitive sense of smell. They'll extend their tongue to gather volatile molecules and then pull it back in and plug it into the vomeronasal organ at the roof of the mouth to get a reading. Snakes are keenly attuned to the aroma of favored prey-so much so that if you slip a rat's face and hide, Hannibal Lecter–style, over the snout of a non-favored prey item, a python will try to swallow it.
In her book "Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal," Mary Roach discusses the unique sensory capabilities of snakes, particularly their sense of smell. While snakes lack the ability to taste in the conventional sense, they possess a primitive but effective olfactory system. By extending their tongues, they can collect airborne chemical particles, which they then transfer to the vomeronasal organ in their mouths for analysis, allowing them to detect scents with...
