Why do snakes stick out their tongues?
[ 2006-06-30 10:13 ]
蛇吐信的樣子著實很可怕。那一伸一縮的舌頭好像隨時都在準備攻擊一樣。要是有誰說蛇的舌頭根本無害，估計沒有人會相信。然而大自然總是那么愛捉弄人……
 Snakes don't sting or use their forked tongues as weapons. The tongues are
perfectly harmless.
A snake sticks out its tongue to collect data for its
Jacobson's Organ, an organ strategically located in front of the roof of the
snake's mouth that functions as a chemical receptor. Each and every time the
snake flicks out its forked tongue, it snares chemical particles in the air, which latch onto, or
dissolve in, the moisture of the
snake's tongue. Once the snake reels in its tongue, it inserts the tips of the
forked tongue into the two awaiting openings of the Jacobson's organ where the
particles, especially those of animal body odors, are identified, analyzed, and
acted upon.
For the male snake, the tongue is both a sensory organ, and a
sensual organ. The tongue plays a vital role in snake courtship and
reproduction, as the male snake's jerking body motions and rapidly flicking tongue
either charms the female snake, or renders her unresponsive. In either instance,
by sticking out their tongues, snakes ensure the survival of their
species.
forked 叉子似的
particles 微粒
moisture
濕氣
jerking搖晃
（英語點津Annabel編輯）
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