Cham Tongues

[OrangeJuice]

So, I have a few questions. I've been watching slow motion videos of chams shooting their tongues. Just wonder what the circled membrane is called...and perhaps where I could get some more information on the science of chameleons

 

[jajeanpierre]

@OrangeJuice The straight hard part of the tongue is the hyoid glean, part of the hypobrachial apparatus. It is a bone. I've heard vets refer to the straight bone buried in the tongue as the hyoid bone. Google is your friend.

 

[kinyonga]

Here's a site that might help you...
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/160105-chameleons-tongue-speed-animals-science/#close
BTW....Chris Anderson is a member of this forum.

And another one...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...k-a-brief-explanation-on-the-mechanics.77322/

I've posted lots of links in the forum over the years to all kind of studies on chameleons and chameleon related things. A search should lead you to them.

 

[OrangeJuice]

Thanks guys! I did a little searching on google but a lot of it was a little...vague. I appreciate the help and accurate info

 

[kinyonga]

More...structure of the chameleon's tongue...
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/05/0519_040519_tvchameleons.html

See the picture part way down that shows the hyoid spike inside the tongue muscles...
http://chamaeleon-terraristik.de/html/anatomy.html

Some more...
http://www.chameleonnews.com/03JulKalischTongue.html
http://reptiles.guru/chameleon/can-my-chameleons-tongue-hurt-me/

 

[Chris Anderson]

The straight rigid projection you're seeing in the frame you posted is the entoglossal process, which is a portion of the hyoid or hyobranchial apparatus. There are a few other components that make up the hyoid/hyobranchial apparatus in addition to the entoglossal process (ceratohyals, ceratobranchials, basihyal). The membrane you are seeing stretched over it is the tissue surrounding/covering the tongue retractor muscle, the hyoglossus. The hyoglossus muscle extends from the hyoid apparatus (on the ceratobranchials) to the accelerator muscle (the enlarged portion of the tongue before the tongue pad that is making contact with the prey. At rest, the accelerator muscle sits on/around the entoglossal process with the hyoglosses pleated up behind it like an accordion.

Chris