Senses made for Stealth

Australia’s terrestrial snake species have acute senses designed for a cryptic, limbless life in the undergrowth. Sea snakes, on the other hand, have developed specialised scale sensilla that help them detect even slight vibrations underwater. From ‘air-tasting’ tongues, to jawbones that ‘hear’ vibrations, to the ability of some to detect infrared thermal radiation, snakes are very likely aware of our presence long before we are aware of theirs.