Giraffe Tongue Facts & Fun That Will Make You Say “What?!”

Ever wondered what makes a giraffe’s tongue so special? From its incredible length to its surprising color, this tongue has some amazing tricks up its sleeve – or should we say, up its neck!

Whether you’re a homeschool parent or a classroom teacher, these giraffe tongue facts will grab your kids’ attention and get them curious about nature.

What is Special about a Giraffe’s Tongue?

Fact: Giraffes have prehensile tongues, which means it can grasp and hold things – almost like an elephant’s trunk. This is super helpful for grabbing the tastiest leaves from mulberry or acacia trees. And thanks to its tough, flexible tongue, a giraffe can eat safely without getting poked from the sharp thorns.

Plus, giraffes use their long tongues to reach high branches, while their long necks and long legs give them even more of an advantage when browsing treetops for food.

Why is a Giraffe’s Tongue Dark in Color?

Fact: Giraffes spend hours every day munching on leaves under the hot African sun. Their tongues are usually a dark purple or bluish color – and scientists think this helps protect against sun damage. Think of it like natural sunscreen for their tongues!

How Long can a Giraffe’s Tongue Get?

Giraffes have a long. long tongue. In fact they have one of the longest tongues in the animal kingdom. It can stretch from 18 to 20 inches long – that’s almost two feet! That extra length makes it easier to grab food from thorny branches that other animals can’t reach.

The average human tongue is about 3 inches long when measured from the back to the tip. So compared to the tongue of adult giraffes the human tongue is tiny! That means a giraffe’s tongue is about 6 to 7 times longer than yours – and way more useful for grabbing snacks from tall trees.

Fun Giraffe-Inspired Learning You Can Print and Go!

If your kids are hungry for more wild giraffe facts & fun, bring the savanna right into your homeschool or classroom with these fun, print-and-go resources:

Each one offers a different way to explore giraffes – from scientific investigation to creative storytelling – all while keeping things print-and-go easy. Use them together for a full giraffe unit study or pick and choose what fits your learners best.

Springboard Learning Ideas

Keep the curiosity growing with these hands-on, giraffe-inspired activities, books and movies:

• Why Don’t Giraffes Get Dizzy? Research how a giraffe’s circulatory system helps them bend way down for a drink without fainting.
• Tongue Showdown – Compare giraffe tongues to other wild wonders – like anteaters, okapis, or chameleons. Whose tongue is the longest, stickiest, or strangest?
• Build the Savanna – Create a diorama of an African savanna and show how giraffes use their long necks and camouflage to survive among acacia trees and tall grasses.
• Tongue Hall of Fame – Start your own animal records board: Who has the strongest tongue? The longest? The weirdest? (Spoiler alert: Giraffes are top contenders!)
• Meet a Real-Life Wildlife Detective – Watch The Woman Who Loves Giraffes (PG), a documentary about Dr. Anne Innis Dagg – the first scientist to study giraffes in the wild. After watching, create your own wildlife detective notebook inspired by her real-life research. What tools would you bring? What would you observe? How would you protect giraffes?
• Giraffe Book Picks – Try one of these fun reads to round out the fun :
  • Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae – A favorite for younger kids with a heartwarming message and dancing animals. Perfect for story time or a movement break!
  • All Things Giraffes For Kids is packed with eye-catching photos, cool facts, and fun tidbits to satisfy your curious learners ages 9-12. From long necks and sharp-thorn snacks to prehensile tongues, this nonfiction book helps kids dive deeper into giraffe life on the savanna. Perfect for independent reading or a science unit supplement.

Mark Your Calendars for These Wildly Fun Giraffe Holidays

Learning about giraffes (and their tongues) gets even better when you tie it into real-world celebrations. Add these special days to your calendar for some extra animal-inspired fun:

🦒 World Giraffe Day – June 21
Celebrate the tallest land animal on Earth! Hosted by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, this day raises awareness about giraffes and the need to protect them. It’s the perfect excuse to dive into giraffe facts, read silly stories, and do some hands-on learning with our giraffe activity packs.

👅 Stick Out Your Tongue Day – July 19
Silly? Yes. Educational? Definitely – especially when you’re studying giraffe tongues! (Spoiler: A giraffe would win any tongue-sticking contest without even trying ) Use this quirky holiday to explore vocabulary like prehensile and camouflage while having a little tongue-in-cheek fun.

Final Thought

From their sky-high necks to their sun-proof, prehensile tongues, giraffes are full of wild surprises – and they’re a blast to explore with your learners. Whether you’re diving into our Wildlife Detectives case file, coloring with little ones, or giggling through the Giraffe Fashion Frenzy of 1827, there’s something here for every curious kid.

Ready for more adventures? Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss a new resource or print-and-go activity to make learning fun for homeschoolers and teachers alike

Let’s make learning WILD again – one giraffe tongue at a time!