Happy EleFACT Friday!
Have you heard of the Jacobson’s organ? Named after Ludwig Jacobson, it is also known as the vomeronasal organ or VNO and helps elephants in pheromone detection. Other mammals, reptiles, and amphibians also have one. When elephants can’t collect all the information they need about something through their normal sense of smell, they may pick up the substance or collect it into their trunk. The prehensile structure, or the “finger” at the tips of their trunks, allows the chemosensory stimuli to transfer to the Jacobson’s organ, which is an opening in the roof of their mouths that is connected to the oral and nasal cavities. This behavior is known as the flehmen response and is characterized by the elephant curling its trunk into its mouth. Some are familiar with this response in cats, when they open their mouths after smelling something or horses when they lift their lips.
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Sallie says
April 2, 2021 at 3:12 pmFASCINATING! Many of us take for granted these complicated stimuli of elephants. We know about those teeny fingers in those trunks and forget about how sophisticated they are! Quite an amazing organism – especially their brains! You can see how complex their minds are by their behavior. I LIVE FOR ELEFACT FRIDAYS! Thank you!
Andy says
April 2, 2021 at 3:56 pmVery Cool. The more you teach us about Eles the more I see how amazing they are in so many ways. Thanks. ❤️?
Sunny says
April 2, 2021 at 4:39 pmLike those videos of cats smelling “bad things”?
Sara says
April 2, 2021 at 5:56 pmCats do have this same organ – so very likely so!
Charlotte Hansen says
April 2, 2021 at 5:20 pmInteresting! Elephants are just the best!!
Wim says
April 2, 2021 at 5:34 pmAre humans smart enough to understand how intelligent Elephants are.
Wonderful new knowledge to me. ??
Sherry says
April 2, 2021 at 5:41 pmThis photo is so beautiful all landscape is lush and green! I know that elephant loves her sanctuary life!
Carey says
April 5, 2021 at 9:54 amThank you, very interesting info!
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EleFact Friday: Jacobson’s Organ