Thermal pits detect prey: snakes

1 of 1 Emerald tree boa / gina / License

Thermal pits of vipers, pythons and boas detect infrared radiation emitted from prey using protein channels activated by heat.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Process information >
	Sense signals/environmental cues >
	Temperature

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Fans triggered by detection of minute changes in heat levels Night vision

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Although not as well known for infrared vision as the crotalids, another group of snakes, the boas and pythons, also have heat sensors. Instead of pits, however, these snakes have up to 13 pairs of thermoreceptors arranged around their lips." (Shuker 2001:18)

Excerpt

"Snakes possess a unique sensory system for detecting infrared radiation, enabling them to generate a 'thermal image' of predators or prey. Infrared signals are initially received by the pit organ, a highly specialized facial structure that is innervated by nerve fibres of the somatosensory system. How this organ detects and transduces infrared signals into nerve impulses is not known. Here we use an unbiased transcriptional profiling approach to identify TRPA1 channels as infrared receptors on sensory nerve fibres that innervate the pit organ. TRPA1 orthologues from pit-bearing snakes (vipers, pythons and boas) are the most heat-sensitive vertebrate ion channels thus far identified, consistent with their role as primary transducers of infrared stimuli. Thus, snakes detect infrared signals through a mechanism involving radiant heating of the pit organ, rather than photochemical transduction. These findings illustrate the broad evolutionary tuning of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels as thermosensors in the vertebrate nervous system." (Gracheva et al. 2010:1006)

About the inspiring organism

Boidae
Boidae

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

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Application Ideas: Fans triggered by detection of minute changes in heat levels. Night vision applications.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Electronics, manufacturing, military

Experts

Julius Lab
David Julius
Department of Physiology, The University of California, San Francisco

References

Shuker, KPN. 2001. The Hidden Powers of Animals: Uncovering the Secrets of Nature. London: Marshall Editions Ltd. 240 p.

Fang J. 2010. Snake infrared detection unravelled. Nature News [Internet],

Gracheva EO; Ingolia NT; Kelly YM; Corder-Morales JF; Hollopeter G; Chesler AT; Sánchez EE; Perez JC; Weissman JS; Julius D. 2010. Molecular basis of infrared detection by snakes. Nature. 464: 1006-1011.

Thermal pits detect prey: snakes

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