Yellow dung fly tongue. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the mouthparts of a yellow dung fly (Scatophaga stercoraria). At centre is the

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Yellow dung fly tongue. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the mouthparts of a yellow dung fly (Scatophaga stercoraria). At centre is the proboscis (pink) and at upper left and right are sensory palps (yellow). Flies do not have a muscular tongue like humans, but the tip of their proboscis has a similar sensory function. Research has shown that flies are able to taste a wide variety of flavours, and are especially adept at distinguishing between bitter flavours. Magnification: x180 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

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Size: 4110px × 4236px
Photo credit: © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: adult, animal, biological, biology, close-, coloured, detail, dung, entomology, false-colour, false-coloured, fauna, fly, hair, hairs, hairy, head, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, mouth, mouthparts, nature, palps, predator, predatory, proboscis, scatophaga, sem, sensitive, sensory, stercoraria, tongue-, wildlife, yellow, zoological, zoology