The olfactory organ and vomeronasal system in snake, Protobothrops jerdonii, were investigated under the microscope. The results showed that the olfactory organ lies in the dorsal and the vomeronasal organ is in the ventral portion of the nose cavity. The epithelium of the olfactory cavity is divided into the two segments: olfactory epithelium and respiratory epithelium. Bowman′s gland in the olfactory epithelium is present and goblets cells occur in the respiratory epithelium. Vomeronasal gland is not found in the vomeronasal organ. The olfactory bulb and accessory olfactory bulb are typical laminar pattern. Subdivision of dorsal olfactory epithelium and ventral respiratory epithelium in snake may be beneficial to that the olfactory epithelium capture odour and respiratory epithelium take party into the respiratory. In addition, the vomeronasal organ in snake lacks vomeronasal glands, but the harderian gland and the salivary glands compensate lack of the vomeronasal gland.

Protobothrops jerdonii; olfactory organ; vomeronasal organ; olfactory bulb; accessory olfactory bulb