Which reptile has the longest tongue relative to its body size?

The chameleon has the longest tongue relative to body size among the familiar reptile examples in this question. Many chameleons can project the tongue roughly one and a half to two times their body length, while some small species have reached about 2.5 body lengths in scientific studies.

This remarkable weapon is not simply a long muscle. A chameleon’s tongue apparatus includes a specialised hyoid bone, accelerator muscles and elastic collagenous tissues. The stored elastic energy is released rapidly, allowing the tongue to shoot outward and seize an insect before the animal moves its head.

Researchers have found that smaller chameleons tend to project their tongues farther relative to body size than larger chameleons. In one study of 20 species, projection distances reached 2.5 times snout-to-vent length. The tongue tip uses sticky mucus and a gripping pad to hold prey during retraction.

The Gila monster and Komodo dragon are also reptiles with impressive feeding adaptations, but neither is known for this extreme proportional tongue reach. The chameleon’s colour-changing ability is more famous, yet its ballistic tongue is one of its most specialised hunting tools.