I Fed a Chameleon From My Mouth To Study Its Mouth ( In Slow Motion) | Smarter Every Day 180

TL;DR

Chameleons have a unique tongue mechanism that allows them to launch their elongated tongues forward to catch prey.

Transcript

Hey, it's me Destin, welcome back to Smarter Every Day. I've been wanting to do this video forever. Chameleons tongues are very unique, and this is a very hungry chameleon right now, and I'm going to see if I can feed him by holding a cricket in my mouth and There's a lot of her gone hmm That was amazing. You got it! Okay, so The unique- that was- ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😋 Chameleons have a unique tongue mechanism that allows them to catch prey.
• 😋 The chameleon's tongue is propelled by a combination of bone and muscle movements.
• 😋 Diaphonization techniques help scientists visualize and study the intricate structures of a chameleon's tongue and throat.
• 🤢 The hyoid bone in a chameleon functions similarly to a mechanical bar linkage.
• 😅 Chameleons can eat a variety of insects as part of their diet.
• 🤗 KiwiCo sponsors this video, offering educational and hands-on activities for children.
• 💁 Emily Graslie from The Brain Scoop provides additional information on chameleon anatomy and clearing and staining techniques.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does a chameleon's tongue work?

A chameleon's tongue works by using a series of sphincter muscles to squeeze the tongue muscle off of the protruding bone, propelling it forward to catch prey.

Q: What is diaphonization?

Diaphonization is a process that allows scientists to see the bones and structures of a specimen by clearing the tissue and staining the bones.

Q: Does the hyoid bone in a chameleon work like a mechanical bar linkage?

Yes, the hyoid bone in a chameleon operates similarly to a mechanical bar linkage, allowing the chameleon to control the movement and extension of its tongue.

Q: What other animals does Mojo, the chameleon, eat?

Mojo eats a variety of insects, including crickets, hornworms, cicadas, butterflies, and moths.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Chameleons have a specialized tongue that can be launched forward to catch prey thanks to a series of sphincter muscles.

• The chameleon's tongue is propelled by a longitudinal bone, which is fired by the hyoid bone located in the back of the throat.

• Diaphonization or clearing and staining techniques allow scientists to see the intricate structures of a chameleon's tongue and throat.