 Olfaction in salamanders plays a role in territory maintenance , the recognition of predators , and courtship rituals , but is probably secondary to sight during prey selection and feeding . Salamanders have two types of sensory areas that respond to the chemistry of the environment . Olfactory epithelium in the nasal cavity picks up airborne and aquatic odors , while adjoining vomeronasal organs detect nonvolatile chemical cues , such as tastes in the mouth . In <unk> , the sensory epithelium of the vomeronasal organs extends to the <unk> grooves , which stretch from the nostrils to the corners of the mouth . These extended areas seem to be associated with the identification of prey items , the recognition of conspecifics , and the identification of individuals . 
