A giraffe’s tongue is dark in colour to protect it from sunburn. The 20-inch long tongue can appear purple, bluish or almost black in colour. This is due to the density of dark ‘melanin’ colour pigments in it. The leading theory is that the melanin provides extra UV protection, preventing the tongue from getting sunburnt as the giraffe spends upto 12 hours a day feeding.
Giraffes spend a lot of time using their tongues to get food. They use their tongue to reach into tall trees and plants to gather what they need to eat. Just like humans, they are prone to sun damage and sun burns. The color of their tongues is an adaptation to their environment. Their tongues are out and exposed to the sun a large portion of the time. Since their tongues are approximately 18 to 21 inches in length, there is a lot of space to get a sun burn. The darker color is a result of the extra melanin that is present. It helps to prevent sun burns and can protect them. The end of their tongue tends to be black and may be more pink or purple near the top since that portion is not as exposed to the sun. The melanin act as a sort of natural sunscreen. Just like people with natural darker pigment, they are still able to be affected by the sun but they are less susceptible to sun burns. This is something that has naturally occurred over the course of time.
Picture Credit : Google