Can snakes only 'hear' when they have their jaw touching something?

Tabby Tom

Snakes have an inner ear with which they can hear low-frequency airborne sounds, even if they don't have their jaws on the ground. But they 'hear' much better by detecting ground-borne vibrations, usually through their jaws. http://www.dalaerm.de/wett2001/wb002/britohr.htm http://reptilis.net/serpentes/senses.html http://www.anapsid.org/snakehearing.html Oct 19 02, 9:16 AM

student

ok thanks. but in your third link it says 'Most snakes can hear a person speaking in a normal tone of voice in a quiet room at a distance of about 10 feet (3 m). Two of my snakes have always responded to my calling their {names;} it's nice to know I wasn't imagining it!' and it brings another question are snaks smart enough to respond to someone calling their names?? I mean, with their tiny little brain how can they? Oct 19 02, 2:09 PM