Marine toad tongue action. Artwork sequence of the tongue action of a marine toad (Bufo marinus). The sequence runs from top to bottom. At rest (top),

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Marine toad tongue action. Artwork sequence of the tongue action of a marine toad (Bufo marinus). The sequence runs from top to bottom. At rest (top), the toad's tongue (pink) lies folded backwards in its mouth. In the next image (centre) the toad flips its jaw down with tremendous force, flipping the tongue over (red arrow) and towards its larva prey (bottom). This whip-like action can propel the tongue downwards at nearly 3 metres a second.

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Size: 1846px × 3260px
Photo credit: © SALLY BENSUSEN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: action, alien, amphibian, anatomical, anatomy, animal, artwork, biomechanics, biomechanism, bufo, catching, caught, extending, extension, feeding, food, grub, hunting, illustration, insect, internal, invasive, jaw, larva, marine, marinus, mechanics, mechanism, mouth, nature, physiology, predator, prey, sequence, species, toad, tongue, wildlife, worst, zoology