Tiny Chameleons’ Tongues Pack Strongest Punch (High-Speed Footage)

Imagine having a tongue that's more than twice as long as your body. Now imagine being able to shoot your tongue out all the way to grab an object on the other side of the room. That's how these tiny chameleons hunt, as you can see on this high-speed video, which has been slowed down to 1/50 of the normal speed. By studying these small species—some of which can fit on your thumb—researchers have found that their tongues can stretch farther and faster than even those of larger chameleons. At zero to 60 mph in 1/100 of a second, their tongues accelerate the fastest and are the most powerful of any reptiles, birds, and mammals. It's believed the super burst of energy is a trade-off for the energy that would otherwise be used in moving their tiny bodies toward their prey.

Click here to read more: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/160105-chameleons-tongue-speed-animals-science/

VIDEO: Christopher Anderson
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Jed Winer