“Seeing” heat
28. 08. 2022
Some snaks that hunt mammals and birds use a special kind of "night vision". Using receptors located in the pits on their head, they can detect their prey´s body heat.
CUBAN BOA
BOIDS – specifically pythons and some boas that hunt swiftly flying prey – have a row of shallow, heat-sensitive pits along the jaw. Being located here ensures the snakes have a good “view” to the sides. It allows them to pick up a bird or bat flying around them and lunge for them in time.
RATTLESNAKE
PIT VIPERS, including rattlesnakes, have just two heat sensitive pits under the nostrils, but they are deeper and more sensitive. The snake can detect a 0.2 °C change in temperature and accurately fix on the heat source. This means the snake has a spatial image of the surroundings that easily substitutes for vision.
CZECH: Kdo „vidí“ teplo
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