10 Animals with super-long tongues and how they use them to survive
From the forests to the oceans, some creatures have evolved remarkably long tongues to thrive in their habitats. Discover ten fascinating animals whose tongues serve unique and surprising purposes in their daily survival.
Chameleon: The chameleon's tongue can stretch twice its body length, shooting out at fast speed to grab unsuspecting insects. It's one of nature's most precise and powerful hunting tools. (Image: Canva)
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Giant Anteater: This insectivorous mammal uses its two-foot-long sticky tongue to slurp up ants and termites, ingesting as many as 30,000 insects a day and never having teeth. (Image: Canva)
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Pangolin: The tongue of the pangolin extends longer than its entire body, minus the tail. It's covered with sticky saliva for catching ants and termites deep inside their homes. (Image: Canva)
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Woodpecker: A woodpecker's long, barbed tongue wraps around its skull when retracted. It probes deep into tree bark in order to extract hidden insects; it acts like a flexible spear. (Image: Canva)
Giraffe: The 45-cm-long tongue of a giraffe helps it pluck leaves and twigs from tall acacia trees. Its dark colour protects it from sunburn during long hours of feeding. (Image: Canva)
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Sun Bear: This little bear has an extremely long, worm-like tongue, perfectly suited for licking honey out of hives and stealing insects from deep crevices. (Image: Canva)
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Blue-tongued Skin : The blue-tongued skink flashes its bright blue tongue to deter predators. The bright colour is a startling defence but has nothing to do with feeding. (Image: Canva)
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Eagle: Although not as frequently observed, eagles have powerful tongues that help them manipulate and swallow their prey efficiently. It helps them tear flesh and push food down their throats. (Image: Canva)
Penguin: A penguin's tongue has backward-facing spines that grip onto slippery fish, while rough barbs around the tongue prevent prey from escaping once caught underwater. (Image: Canva)
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Hippopotamus: Despite its huge mouth, a hippo’s tongue helps guide vegetation and pull grass into its jaws: thick, muscular, and astonishingly agile for so a bulk of an animal. (Image: Canva)
Sheetal Kumari is a skilled sub-editor and content creator with expertise in digital news, multimedia storytelling, and social media content. With a strong grasp of topics like science, politics, and many more, she crafts compelling narratives, transforming complex topics and trending stories into engaging, accessible reads across various media platforms.
