BBC World Service - CrowdScience, What's the deal with tongues? Homepage Accessibility links * Skip to content * Accessibility Help Close menu BBC World Service CrowdScience * Home * Episodes * Clips * Podcast * Contact CrowdScience * Join us on Facebook Main content Listen now What's the deal with tongues? CrowdScience CrowdScience listener Dale has noticed that his dog’s tongue is different from his. He’d like to know why there are so many different kinds of tongues. Show more Why is there such a variety of tongues in the animal kingdom? CrowdScience listener Dale has observed that his dog’s tongue is different from his and so is his cat’s.  He’d like to know the reason. Caroline Steel visits London Zoo in the UK to find out more about the different types of tongues - from giraffes and birds to lizards. She talks to evolutionary biologist Kurt Schwenk, who explains that the development of tongues made it possible for animals to make the leap from the sea to life on land. Fish could rely on water to help them swallow food, but air and gravity required a whole different mechanism for having dinner. But why is there such a variety of tongues between species - from the forked tongue of a snake to the rough tongue of a cat? And does it all come down to our diets? Researcher Callum Ross reveals how he’s pioneered a new technique for investigating how animals use their tongues when they eat and drink, and why tongues are so important for swallowing. Presenter: Caroline Steel Producer: Jo Glanville Editor: Ben Motley (Photo: Giraffe licking its lips - stock photo - Credit: laurenepbath via Getty Images) Show less Download Choose your file * Higher quality (128kbps) * Lower quality (64kbps) Available now 26 minutes Last on Mon 1 Jun 2026 12:32 GMT BBC World Service Australasia, East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa only More episodes Previous Why am I an introvert? Next Do plants have personalities? See all episodes from CrowdScience Featured * . Broadcasts * Fri 29 May 2026 19:32 GMT BBC World Service * Mon 1 Jun 2026 01:32 GMT BBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean * Mon 1 Jun 2026 04:32 GMT BBC World Service Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean, South Asia & East Asia only * Mon 1 Jun 2026 08:32 GMT BBC World Service * Mon 1 Jun 2026 12:32 GMT BBC World Service Australasia, East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa only Show more / Show less Podcast * CrowdScience Answering your questions about life, Earth and the universe Related Content Similar programmes By genre: * Factual > Science & Nature > Science & Technology By format: * Discussion & Talk * Online schedule * Help & FAQs * Contact us * News in more than 40 languages * Terms of Use * About the BBC * Privacy Policy * Privacy Policy * Cookies * Cookies * Accessibility Help * Parental Guidance * Contact the BBC * Make an editorial complaint * Careers * BBC emails for you * Advertise with us Copyright (c) 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.