Biggest Tongues in the Game: Nature Edition
28/11/2025
Stick your tongue out – how long is it? Average human size is about 8cm; you’ll freak when you see what Nature can come up with.
We knew you’d like this one. Have a flick through some of the biggest tongues in Nature and see which one you’d prefer.
Giant Armadillo
Long, sticky, and 50cm – this tongue doesn’t quit. The Giant Armadillo uses this incredible tool to lift food from the ground. Bonus round: while digging for snacks, it can hold its breath for six minutes! We could go on all day about how iconic this species is, but we’ll hand you over to Bob the Drag Queen, who recently teamed up with everyone’s favourite armoured queen to spread the word about their vanishing numbers.
Tamandua
40cm, and capable of eating 9,000 ants in a single day – damn girl! Tamanduas don't have teeth to chew with; instead, their stomach grinds the food after it’s swallowed. The tongue has barbs on it, just right for stealing ants and termites from their home. The Tamandua's mouth is only as round as a pencil, but it can also lick up honey and soft, juicy fruits.
Hummingbird
Long, slender, and specially adapted to collect nectar from flowers – this one’s a good’un. The Hummingbird’s bill protects the long, split tongue and allows each species to feed from specific types of flowers. The tongue actually has long tubes inside that help the Hummingbird get its fill of nectar, and they lap it up. The tongue works like a little pump, pressing at a rate of 20 times a second; their tongues move almost as fast as their wings!
Chameleons
When you move slowly, you need a long, quick tongue to get your snacks in. That’s Chameleon life. The end of the tongue is a ball of muscle, and as it hits its prey, it rapidly forms a small suction cup to pull insects back into the mouth to be crushed by its powerful jaws. On average, a Chameleon’s tongue is roughly twice the length of its body!
Okapi
The Giraffe is the Okapi's closest relative, so naturally the Okapi shares its relative's leaf-reaching tongue. 35-45cm, and they use it not only to reach for a tasty snack but also to clean their eyes and nose.
Now you’ve seen the biggest tongues in Nature, which would you prefer? Send to a friend and get their expert opinion on it.
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