Never Allow It To Lick You
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Different animals utilize their tongues in various ways, from communication to hunting, with some tongues carrying dangerous bacteria and venom, while others are powerful enough to cause harm or even mimic human body parts. Additionally, some animals, like raccoons and alligator snapping turtles, can transmit diseases through their saliva, leading to potential harm to humans.
Insights
- Animal tongues serve diverse functions, from communication to predation, with some species utilizing venom-coated harpoons, sharp papillae, and bacteria-laden barbs for hunting and defense.
- The distribution of oral rabies vaccines by the U.S. government aims to eradicate rabies in raccoons by 2053, highlighting proactive measures taken to prevent zoonotic diseases and protect human populations from potential outbreaks.
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Recent questions
How do tongues serve animals in the animal kingdom?
Tongues in the animal kingdom serve various purposes like communication, eating, and cleaning. Some animals have tongues that can be used as weapons, such as bullets, shredding devices, or venom-filled killing machines. Different species have evolved unique adaptations in their tongues to aid in survival and various functions essential for their daily lives.
What is the most powerful tongue in the animal kingdom?
The giant palm salamander of Central America possesses the most powerful tongue in the animal kingdom, reaching 2 ½ inches in length and flicking out in 7 milliseconds. This remarkable tongue speed is 50 times faster than an average eye blink, exerting 18,000 watts of power per kilogram of muscle. The salamander's tongue showcases an incredible adaptation for capturing prey efficiently in its natural habitat.
How do raccoons transmit rabies to humans?
Raccoons can transmit rabies through their saliva, with up to 55,000 human fatalities occurring annually due to the virus. Rabies is caused by brain inflammation, affecting swallowing and leading to frothing at the mouth; survival is rare once symptoms appear. The U.S. government has taken measures to combat rabies by distributing oral vaccines for raccoons, aiming for a rabies-free raccoon population by 2053.
What unique tongue feature do cats possess?
Cats have tongues with back-facing barbs called papillae made of keratin, which can transmit dangerous bacteria like Pasteurella multocida. These barbs serve multiple functions, including grooming, aiding in eating, and even as a form of defense. The unique structure of a cat's tongue plays a crucial role in its daily activities and interactions with the environment.
How do cone snails capture their prey?
Cone snails use venom-coated harpoons to paralyze their prey, with some species capable of delivering fatal stings to humans. This predatory mechanism allows cone snails to efficiently hunt and subdue their prey in marine environments. The specialized tongue adaptation of cone snails showcases the diverse and fascinating ways in which animals have evolved to survive and thrive in their respective ecosystems.
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Summary
00:00
Animal Tongues: Communication, Weapons, and Dangers
- Tongues in the animal kingdom serve various purposes like communication, eating, and cleaning.
- Some animals have tongues that can be used as weapons, such as bullets, shredding devices, or venom-filled killing machines.
- Dog saliva contains a bacteria called Capnocytophaga canimorsus that can be transmitted through licking, leading to severe infections.
- Cats have tongues with back-facing barbs called papillae made of keratin, which can transmit dangerous bacteria like Pasteurella multocida.
- Big cats like lions, cheetahs, and tigers have tongues with sharp papillae that can cause harm even during gentle interactions.
- Cone snails use venom-coated harpoons to paralyze their prey, with some species capable of delivering fatal stings to humans.
- Sea lampreys have suction-cupped mouths with hundreds of small teeth and a piston-like tongue to feed on fish by preventing blood clotting.
- Hagfish have razor-sharp teeth-like structures on their tongues made of keratin, which they use to shred their prey apart.
- Cookie cutter sharks use their strong tongues to create distinctive plug-shaped holes in their prey by sucking out flesh.
- Raccoons can transmit rabies through their saliva, with up to 55,000 human fatalities occurring annually due to the virus.
14:30
Fascinating Animal Tongues and Survival Tactics
- Rabies is caused by brain inflammation, affecting swallowing and leading to frothing at the mouth; survival is rare once symptoms appear.
- U.S. government distributes oral rabies vaccines for raccoons since 1997, aiming for a rabies-free raccoon population by 2053.
- Giant palm salamander of Central America has the most powerful tongue in the animal kingdom, reaching 2 ½ inches in length and flicking out in 7 milliseconds.
- Salamander's tongue speed is 50 times faster than an average eye blink, exerting 18,000 watts of power per kilogram of muscle.
- Geese have tomia on their beaks and tongues, sharp cartilage used to rip apart food; penguins have keratin bristles on their tongues for swallowing fish whole.
- Pacu fish have human-like teeth and flat tongues, with chunky molars for grinding seeds and nuts; reports of attacks on human testicles are debunked.
- Tongue-eating louse found in fish mouths severs host's tongue, becomes the new tongue, and mates with male lice; not harmful to humans.
- Ribbon worms have venomous stylets on their proboscis, with one species containing 6,000 mouse units of tetrodotoxin, potentially lethal to humans.
- Alligator snapping turtle uses its tongue as a lure, wriggling it to attract prey before delivering a powerful bite of around 1,000 PSI, ten times stronger than a human bite.
