How does Jacobson’s organ help lizards find food?

In lizards, the Jacobson’s organ (also known as the vomeronasal organ) serves as a specialized chemoreceptor that helps the animal locate food by detecting non-airborne chemical particles.12

Because the organ is isolated from the nasal cavity in lizards, it relies on the tongue to transport scent molecules into the mouth. The process generally functions as follows:32

• Collection: As a lizard flicks its tongue, it picks up chemical particles from the environment or substrate.13
• Transfer: Upon retraction, the tongue brings these particles into the buccal cavity. The particles are then transferred to the openings of the Jacobson’s organ located on the roof of the mouth.12
• Processing: This transfer may be facilitated by the mixing of particles with oral fluids or by hydraulic pressure created by the tongue’s pistonlike movements. Once the chemicals reach the organ, they bind to receptor molecules, sending sensory signals to the brain to identify the presence of prey.1

While some lizards rely heavily on this organ to track food, others—particularly certain diurnal species—may rely less on scent and more on other senses to find prey.2