GEOGRAPHY

Bio - Fauna

Animals with the Longest Tongues

This list features the animals with the longest tongue lengths on Planet Earth.

RANK	ANIMAL	TONGUE LENGTH	DESCRIPTION
1	Blue Whale	98.0 inches	The blue whale's tongue can weigh as much as an elephant and is used to help swallow large amounts of water and prey.
2	Anteater	24.0 inches	Anteaters have long, narrow tongues covered in sticky saliva that help them capture ants and termites.
3	Giraffe	20.0 inches	Giraffes have long, prehensile tongues that can reach around trees to grasp leaves and can also be used for grooming.
4	Horse	16.0 inches	Uses its tongue to drink and manipulate food.
5	Okapi	14.0 inches	Okapis have long, flexible tongues used for reaching leaves high up in trees, similar to giraffes.
6	Pelican	14.0 inches	Pelicans have long, flexible tongues that assist in swallowing fish and maintaining balance in their large bills.
7	Chameleon	12.0 inches	Chameleons have an incredibly long, sticky tongue that can extend twice their body length to catch insects.
8	Dog	12.0 inches	Primarily uses its tongue for panting and drinking water.
9	Sloth	11.0 inches	Sloths have long tongues that help them feed on leaves, often extending to reach food in trees.
10	Tokay Gecko	8.0 inches	Uses its tongue to catch prey and to clean its eyes.
11	Red Kangaroo	8.0 inches	Red kangaroos have long tongues that help them consume foliage in their dry habitats.

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References

B. K. (2015). Chameleons: Their Care and Breeding. Florida University Press. [Accessed 6 Jul. 2025]. A. M. (2018). Sloths: A Natural History. Springer. [Accessed 6 Jul. 2025]. C. M. (2017). Pythons: Natural History and Care. University of Florida Press. [Accessed 6 Jul. 2025]. D. J. (2019). Lizards of the World: A Natural History. Oxford University Press. [Accessed 6 Jul. 2025]. F. J. (2017). Okapi: The Forest Giraffe. Princeton University Press. [Accessed 6 Jul. 2025]. F. R. (2011). The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behavior, and Interactions with People. Cambridge University Press. [Accessed 6 Jul. 2025]. G. C. (2014). Pelicans: The Birds of the World. Academic Press. [Accessed 6 Jul. 2025]. Hooper, J. (2010). The Blue Whale: The World’s Largest Animal. University of California Press. [Accessed 6 Jul. 2025]. K. A. (2012). Kangaroos: A Natural History. Collins. [Accessed 6 Jul. 2025]. M. R. C. (2016). Giraffe Biology: Anatomy and Behavior. Routledge. [Accessed 6 Jul. 2025]. McBain, C. (2018). The Horse: A Natural History. HarperCollins. [Accessed 6 Jul. 2025]. W. J. (2016). The Toco Toucan: Biology and Behavior. Oxford University Press. [Accessed 6 Jul. 2025]. Wiggins, A. (2013). Anteaters: The Natural History of the Giant Anteater and Its Relatives. University of Chicago Press. [Accessed 6 Jul. 2025].

GEOGRAPHY

Bio - Fauna

Animals with the Longest Tongues

References

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