Of tongues and noses: chemoreception in lizards and snakes

Schwenk, Kurt

doi:10.1016/s0169-5347(00)88953-3

Cited by 207 publications

(139 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

138

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Scleroglossans, on the other hand, generally have narrower, bifid, and elongated tongues that are extended out of the oral cavity only during tongue flicking and drinking (Bels et al, 1993;Toubeau et al, 1994;Cooper, 1995aCooper, , 1995bCooper, , 1997Schwenk, 1995). As sampling a large volume of air is important during tongue flicking (Gove, 1979;Schwenk, 1995), the extensibility and mobility of the tongue is considered of prime importance (Cooper, 1997).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As sampling a large volume of air is important during tongue flicking (Gove, 1979;Schwenk, 1995), the extensibility and mobility of the tongue is considered of prime importance (Cooper, 1997). In these animals, the intrinsic tongue musculature is well developed and diversified, and the tongue pro-and retractors often much reduced compared to iguanians (see Kier and Smith, 1985;Smith, 1986;Schwenk, 2000).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Comparative functional analysis of the hyolingual anatomy in lacertid lizards

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The tongue is often considered a key innovation in the evolution of a terrestrial lifestyle as it allows animals to transport food items through the oral cavity in air, a medium with low density and viscosity. The tongue has been secondarily coopted for a wide diversity of functions, including prey capture, drinking, breathing, and defensive behaviors. Within basal lizard groups, the tongue is used primarily for the purpose of prey capture and transport. In more derived groups, however, the tongue appears specialized for chemoreceptive purposes. Here we examine the tongue structure and morphology in lacertid lizards, a group of lizards where the tongue is critical to both food transport and chemoreception. Because of the different mechanical demands imposed by these different functions, regional morphological specializations of the tongue are expected. All species of lacertid lizards examined here have relatively light tongue muscles, but a well developed hyobranchial musculature that may assist during food transport. The intrinsic musculature, including verticalis, transversalis, and longitudinalis groups, is well developed and may cause the tongue elongation and retraction observed during chemoreception and drinking. The papillary morphology is complex and shows clear differences between the tongue tips and anterior fore-tongue, and the more posterior parts of the tongue. Our data show a subdivision between the fore-and hind-tongue in both papillary structure and muscular anatomy likely allowing these animals to use their tongues effectively during both chemoreception and prey transport. Moreover, our data suggest the importance of hyobranchium movements during prey transport in lacertid lizards.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative functional analysis of the hyolingual anatomy in lacertid lizards

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Snakes and some other squamates use forked tongues for chemo-and mechanoreception (Schwenk, 1994(Schwenk, , 1995Bels et al, 1994). During a probing action, the tongue protrudes, oscillates (flicks) while collecting airborne and substrate-fixed chemical particles and subsequently retracts (Ulinski, 1972;Gove, 1979).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the mouth, chemicals are transported to and stimulate the vomeronasal organ (e.g. Meredith and Burghardt, 1978;Bertmar, 1981;Gillingham and Clark, 1981;Young, 1990;Schwenk, 1994Schwenk, , 1995. The pattern of tongue flicking is related to external stimuli, such as the presence of prey or predators, and involves behavioural and seasonal aspects (e.g.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A three-dimensional kinematic analysis of tongue flicking in Python molurus

Groot

Sluijs

Snelderwaard

et al. 2004

Journal of Experimental Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

(20·mm) was reached during the first tongue flick. These observations are discussed within the scope of the biomechanical constraints of hydrostatic tongue protrusion: a negative forward pressure gradient, longitudinal tongue compliance and axial tongue stiffness. The three-dimensional deformation varied along the tongue with a mean curvature of 0.06·mm -1 and a maximum value of 0.5·mm -1 . At the basis of the anterior forked portion of the tongue tips, extreme curvatures up to 2.0·mm -1 were observed. These quantitative results support previously proposed inferences about a hydrostatic elongation mechanism and may serve to evaluate future dynamic models of tongue flicking.

show abstract

“…Snakes have long been model organisms for understanding vomeronasal function, and studies conducted at the behavioral, electrophysiological and molecular levels demonstrate that the vomeronasal system is crucial in mediating responses to foraging cues [11]. The characteristic tongue-flicking behavior of snakes brings molecules into the vomeronasal organ [29], and the prevalence of tongue-flicking during hunting suggests that responses to prey odorants are mediated by the vomeronasal system [30]. Earthworms, a common prey item of garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis), produce a 20-kDa protein that is sensed by the garter snake vomeronasal organ [31,32].…”

Section: Vomeronasal Responses To Non-pheromonal Stimulimentioning

confidence: 99%