Why Do Giraffes Have Purple Tongues?
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (189927)
Boise, Idaho
January 19, 2025 3:04pm CST
Giraffe's tongues are 50cm-long(almost twenty inches). Have you ever been licked by one? If so you'll notice their tongues are purple, bluish, or almost black in color. This is because they have very dark melanin color pigments. Scientists have no real explanation for this except that melanin provides extra UV protection and can protect their delicate tongs from sun exposure and keep them from getting sunburned when they feed up high. The surface of the giraffe's tongue is textured with backward-facing tiny spines called papillae, which help them grip and keep items secure during feeding.
The picture is from Pinterest.
7 people like this
6 responses
@Deepizzaguy (122238)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
19 Jan 25
I did not know that giraffes have purple tongues since I never seen in person in my lifetime.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189927)
• Boise, Idaho
19 Jan 25
I saw one once. It was new at our city zoo.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (98041)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Jan 25
I once got licked by a giraffe, I went to the zoo and my husband at the time was taking a photo of me in front of the giraffe enclosure. Suddenly this very wet rag-like thing swiped my cheek, I jumped and turned around and looked at a giraffe that had lowered its neck and was eyeing me, I never understood why but perhaps it had taken a liking to me,
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189927)
• Boise, Idaho
20 Jan 25
He is quite a fierce-looking specimen.
1 person likes this
