This seems to be the case. There is evidence showing heat pits are sensitive to energy with wavelengths beyond the infrared (heat) range. I linked a paper below showing the sensitivity spans wavelengths from UV to infrared (which includes visible spectra). What is particularly interesting is that the pit organ wavelength sensitivity maximums correspond well with maximal absorption spectra of water and blood. Since the pit membrane is highly vascularized, the authors speculate that temperature changes in the pit organ tissue caused by absorption of electromagnetic energy (spanning UV to infrared!) is how the environment is interpreted.



Bottom line is that the pit is sensitive to a broad wavelength range and is seeing much more than simple environmental heat. It may have the capability of transforming wavelengths from other spectra into heat signals in the the pit membrane which the snake may be using to sense the environment. This is interesting because it opens up the possibility that these snakes can possibly do things like "feel" colors.





>>>Although I haven't seen any recent studies done, my hunch is that there's more to the loreal pits than meets the eye. There's no doubt that they are far more sensitive to temp changes than we imagined…


Wide-band spectral tuning of heat receptors

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