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[X-Factor]

This thought/problem occurred to me earlier...hit me like a Mack truck. Now, my knowledge of the mechanics of evolution is limited but what I DO know causes me to be rather curious about this.... I'm sure this thread will end up getting moved to debate but I don't see this being a debate. I'm looking for an answer WHY. Wish we had some biologists here... anyway here goes:

If a reptile (python eg) sees poorly in the spectrum that we humans call "sight" and more with heat, or thermal imaging, how did it evolve body colors and patterns for camoflague and to seek out natural camoflague? Heat signatures don't blend in to colder terrain - certainly not well enough that a pit viper or carpet python couldn't detect them - and colored caudal lures (Boas for example) would not appear to work without a knowledge of the prey's prey stemming from an elevated visual accuity. Under thermal observation camoflague would appear to be ineffective, and visual observation either must be MUCH more acute than previously asserted, or else continues the problem.

If you see only using military thermal goggles you only see varying degrees of heat (snakes MUCH more so), not color, therefore the use of color to hunt/hude would not evolve. If your visual spectrum more mimics humans (as opposed to naked mole rats) color for predation and procreation WOULD necessarily evolve, and quite spectacularly as we see. Combine the two and you have a super predator.

I must conclude that snakes (all snakes), especially those with heat pits, are much more visually acute than we think, and to process that much data must be more "intelligent" or discriminating than we think. Everything that snakes are and are capable of is the result of long eons of evolution, so there had to be a reason and ability to continue. If there is little or no visual acuity to determine color for survival reasons, then HOW does it continue? A few conjectures:

-Snakes can smell their own species for breeding purposes, though in cannabilistic species this makes it less opportunistic and more intentional. The other problem with this theory is that with just smell you end up with a hit or miss genetic pool that never really progresses, and that has not happened.
-Snakes can see MUCH better than we think, those with pits have evolved them and are more effective. Perhaps they evolved them to compensate? This doesn't really address the issue at hand.
-Heat signatures. They could detect their own species for breeding using heat signatures. This falls down on two points. 1) The non heat pit species obviously, and 2) the heat pit species would have to be more sensitive to this than we have previously thought.

I know someone is saying to themselves that I'm mixing up the two basic types of snake and lumping pits with those without, but I'm not. Snakes with heat pits would necessarily have to see better to help identify prey and potential mates, though not AS much as snakes WITHOUT them. I submit that heat pits are more evolved but do not detract from excellent visual acuity. Those without them are less evolved but necessarily also have excellent visual range.

Sorry I'm long winded. I'm done. Thoughts? Comments?