Giraffes Have Weird Dark Purple Tongues, But They Are Not The Only Ones

Summary: Have you ever wondered why a giraffe has a dark purple tongue? These tall animals spend up to 12 hours a day using their 20-inch tongues to grab leaves high up in the trees. Because their tongues are out in the sun so much, scientists believe the dark color acts like natural sunscreen! The purple or black color comes from a heavy dose of a pigment called melanin, which protects the giraffe's tongue from getting a nasty sunburn. Other animals, like their cousin the okapi and even polar bears, also have dark tongues for similar reasons.

Source: IFLScience URL: iflscience.com/why-do-giraffes-have-dark-purple-tongues-83408 (opens in new tab)