This picture from rcreptiles.com shows a ball python reconnecting it's jaw, you can see a hole (that leads down into the lungs) in the pink fleshy part of the bottom of his mouth, tongue hides under and just in front of that. The tongue retracts into the sheath to protect it. You will not see a tongue when a snake yawns or if you pry it open.
My female ball python is very active with her tongue, my male almost never flicks his tongue (I've only seen it a few times). My hognose sticks his out and waves it around! It's just their personality.
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