The giraffe has a tongue that can be about 50 centimetres long.
A giraffe’s exceptionally long, prehensile tongue helps it pull leaves from thorny branches. The tongue is commonly described as dark purple, bluish, or nearly black toward much of its length, although color can vary. Its tough surface and flexible movement help the animal feed among acacia and other spiny plants.
Giraffes also use their lips and tongue together to select leaves while avoiding many thorns. Their height gives them access to browsing levels unavailable to most smaller herbivores, reducing direct competition with grazers.
The exact length reported can vary with the individual and measurement method, so “about 50 centimetres” is more accurate than treating the figure as an exact universal measurement. The tongue is distinct from the upper lip, which is also mobile and useful while browsing.