Chameleon Tongue Attack in Slow Motion | BBC Earth Explore

[@Tomwithnonumbers]

That has to be one of the more gross miracles of nature

[@martinalvarez-sb3ki]

Is called EVOLUTION!!

[@whoops5640]

martin alvarez no it's called nature and evolution is part of nature

[@MrSuperbeast92]

@@whoops5640 Yes. And they are stating that there's no miracles or magic involved. Just evolution. A massive integral part of nature.

[@supreme_meister]

A giraffe giving birth is worse

[@BBCEarthScience]

Top cinematography Sam and Si! Keep up the great work.

[@uzhasair]

Hello BBC Earth Lab

[@MOTat18]

Can you explain the anatomy of the tongue? Specifically, it appears that there is an inside part of it that's rigid and extends about one inch out of the mouth, covered by the fleshy extended tongue that goes out and catches the prey. I would like to know what that rigid part is.

[@BBCEarthExplore]

The tongue is effectively hollow - sheathing a stiff cartilaginous “hyoid horn” that tapers to one end - the solid bit you can see in the video. As the chameleon fires it tenses lots of sphincter-like circular muscles in its tongue, which squeeze against the hyoid horn, and because it is narrower at one end, they slide down and drive the entire tongue out of the mouth. It’s a bit like squeezing a melon seed between your thumb and finger, except the melon seed would stay still and you would go flying!

[@MOTat18]

Earth Unplugged Thank you for that explanation. An intuitively easy but smart mechanic. Thanks for the explanation!

[@maddiemoate]

Love this guys!

[@uzhasair]

Hello person who is verified can you respond to this

[@TheDogues]

Sadly Merlin ( as he became named) passed away earlier this year, always my favourite chameleon & forever immortalised on video.

[@somniloguy12]

How amazing is it that I can just watch these wonders of nature from my computer? It's truly awe inspiring!

[@kylehillen]

when she asks what that tongue do

[@nancyTfO]

What else is amazing is its balance.

[@Chris25698]

Lizards are truly some our most underappreciated creatures.

[@roofoochoo]

Chameleons look so cool, very beautiful reptiles :D

[@mihaelrajh4249]

What I found really interesting is how the tongue appears to be made of two parts, and the back one is very stiff, like a stick poking out of its throat. I wonder what our tongues are like back there 0.o

[@singingzoo]

A haiku: Sir Chameleon Speedy, stretching, flinging tongue Come sup at my house

[@jochent.6816]

Awesome Video! But i would really like to know what song is playing in the background from 0:45 to 1:35

[@BBCEarthExplore]

Jochen Tempelmann Hi Jochen, the songs used are the following: 0:45 - 1:30 Cloud Rise by Alex Arcoleo 2:09 - 2:57 Undercover Mission by Bob Bradley

[@korean0markus]

Jochen Tempelmann you asked the right thing

[@ryansmith6437]

Yes, Please let us know what song that was from :45-1:35? It's very well done and I'd like a copy if I can track it down.

[@fajarsuryantoro7025]

I like when that chameleon catching while balancing his body on that branch

[@MetaSonic543]

That's how I eat pizza

[@jonkthelizardman5491]

Sorry2Say22 LOL

[@kawaiasf4617]

Sorry2Say22 how??

[@GTA_Clipzz]

No one asked

[@fatniga]

stfu

[@snobrdr101]

Excellent choice in cameras!

[@IAmNumber4000]

Do they have.. a bone in their tongue? That looks painful

[@BillySugger1965]

Ever wonder why a chameleon has a curly prehensile tail? Look how this guy balances when he strikes at a cricket on a nearby branch.

[@starmight7109]

Grandayy noticed you!

[@marlineharrold1937]

lovely. Thanks for the video. :)

[@AstroBax]

Really cool images, as usual, congratulation. But it would have been nice to have a short explanation on how chameleon can project their tongue at such a speed/acceleration.

[@movecount]

1:11 "oh crap my food!"

[@zenzylok]

The many mechanism that govern the energy transformations of life and death, are quite amusing to observe.

[@anothernobody5396]

Kakyoin: *sweats profusely*

[@taeahwalker8958]

That’s so disgustingly cool

[@Mavericks411991]

What was the song playing at the end?

[@kata_marie]

What is the song starting @ :45 ?

[@365alisavagewilliams3]

I Absolutely Love Chameleons

[@TheSchultinator]

I never knew they used a bone or spine to direct their tongues!

[@peachy_ness1958]

*Somone worked on tongue Day and leg Day to catch food*

[@gyanguruji8184]

goosebumps 😓

[@pinkma77er]

This is going in my information report. lol for school

[@JustAnFadedMemory]

Grandayy anyone Edit omg I’m the top comment Edit nvm

[@joshpercy29417]

I am

[@ExcaliburMorgan]

zuccy du du du du du du

[@siyacer]

You're not the top comment. It just shows your own comments on top, same with everyone else.

[@JustAnFadedMemory]

Noteight Noteight oh sorry

[@shidqi1435]

Wow amazing

[@canofpepsi8667]

Anyone else here from Grandayy?

[@joshpercy29417]

Me

[@that_orange_hat]

Hoopd Rtp yes

[@uzhasair]

Hello can of Pepsi

[@Demiurge7th]

It's like there's a bone in the tongue because the part or the tongue near the mouth in stiff...

[@ugurgoktolga7359]

I liked the video, but it's a bit misleading to say it's 4 times the acceleration of a fighter aircraft as if that's a technological limit. No, it's a human limit. If the pilots can withstand, fighter aircraft can reach to those g levels. Missiles for example can easily reach those values.

[@fuzzelf]

I would like to see this video with one long clip of the tongue from start to finish without cutting to other views. I feel i don't get to see the feel of the full action of the tongue as it keeps changing camera angles at different times in the action. Respectfully.

[@radmilastefanovic3760]

Hamsters do something in slow motion

[@AlexLopez-hn5ru]

DAMN NATURE, YOU SCARY

[@sakanyako]

Do chameleons have bones in thier tongue?

[@eduardodavila30]

y u no use veiled chameleon

[@kevinjolly5468]

Bruce Lee's fans after watching this.... :Chameleon vs Bruce Lee

[@angelmorales9628]

Zuccy du du du du du du du

[@lordkrythic6246]

Damn Nature, you scary!

[@grantburgess7403]

1:00 I shouldn't be turned on rn

[@eduard2792]

Grant Burgess x

[@julian80085]

looks just like mine :)

[@16998262]

The byakugan lizard

[@syasya1999]

Do chameleons tongue each other? Just curious ._.

[@derbistheeternal2947]

I don't think so, no

[@erenkalfaoglu7425]

Ask zefrank, "true facts about the chameleon" :)

[@beforeisaythisimugly.7757]

What

[@xeromat7293]

eating

[@goku10096]

no recoil effect!!! this could be a Sniper

[@fazzynone1]

Ozzy man reviews brought me here

[@GeoffreyBangers]

Awesome

[@vojtanej]

DAT LOOK AT 2:55 :DDDD

[@twiskiedonut5390]

*bites tongue*

[@ryroberts1219]

Dude on the left looks like Sam Smith

[@eduard2792]

I actually vomited

[@mrhanad3053]

Maxinfinite OMGIraphahell seriously or trolling ?

[@carterfield1355]

Thats so weeiiiird

[@VistaApple]

سبحان الله

[@ButterNuss.]

Yummi! ^^

[@ادهمالخيال-ذ2م]

سبحان الله

[@kensmartable]

sam smith?

[@zen11ist]

wow.... :)

[@stanthology]

Mmmmm. Yum yum.

[@hantigmaria1832]

Syyduidi

[@abuhsalah7933]

مش حلو😂😂

[@BlackBobby69]

The word Chame-leon is greek for "earth lion" or "lion of the ground". I have to say - I don't see any resemblance :-P

[@sterlingwitherspoon5709]

Ew

[@mightytaco123]

How can God call this a fallen world? This world Is perfect and beautiful!

[@jonkthelizardman5491]

uxserdvghbjl people, that's how

[@laurasanchez7105]

I wish my boyfriend had a tongue like that

[@chocolatepancakeart1564]

😂😂😂

[@speshalkmf9273]

Disgusting