They have mouths to suit their specific dietary requirements. The algorithm to figure this out would have to be extraordinarily complex. Turtles cannot stick out their tongues, but do use them for mostly eating and respiration. Make sure they don’t try to put them into their mouths and teach them to wash their hands properly afterward as well. If it is too cold inside the tank, the turtles are more likely to go into hibernation. Turtles do not have teeth; they were lost eons ago through the process of evolution. Fossil records indicate they have existed more than 150 million years. If you notice any of the following signs do contact your vet immediately: Do turtles have tongues? They have a calm personality, do not demand a lot of your attention, and are easy to care for. Turtles are ancient, shelled creatures that are widely distributed throughout the world and live in diverse habitats. Turtles mostly use their tongues for eating and respiration, but not all turtle species do. When young turtles discover food on land, they stru… Their tongues are tiny and lined with specially designed buds. This is how the Musk Turtles can stay submerged in water for months. The alligator snapping turtle lures in fish with its tongue, which looks like a worm. However, once the eggshell is broken, the turtles have no use of these teeth. Do turtles have forked tongues? Young box turtles do not develop the hinge for closing their shell until they are about 4 to 5 years old. If you observe a carnivore turtle eating, you will notice how closely it resembles a bird feeding on worms. These are the kind of questions any new potential owner is willing to face and it is important to know what to expect. They have to eat in the water because their tongues don't move freely, so the water helps to swish the food around their mouths as they grind up it up with their horny plates. It is surprising to know that turtles do not have any teeth. Do you what else is inside the mouth of a turtle? Since they cannot chew their food due to the lack of teeth, most turtles are dependent on the muscles of their tongues for swallowing their food. 3. Their mouths are amazing and capable of doing so much, even without teeth. In fact, some species of turtle do not use their tongues for eating at all. These ‘teeth’ eventually disappear after a while. allowed box turtles to have a diversified diet: insects, earthworms, land snails, mushrooms, berries and young shoots of various plants. Promotes Lively Behavior and Healthy growth, Calcium Supports Shell Growth for Turtles. Aural abscesses have not been documented in sea turtles but have been found in several other chelonian species and could potentially occur. So, you must ensure to keep their mouths healthy. They do this by flapping the loose skin under their chin or throat to move air into the Jacobson’s Organ (reptile smell sense organ). It won't ever translate languages from or to users not using this AddOn. Because of this, they are often desirable pets. Pet Educate strives to be the definitive online resource to help you learn everything that you need to know. These Turtles Are The Largest Freshwater Turtles In North America. The turtles’ mouth cavity is more complex than you could have thought and, thus, quite intriguing. Both the terrestrial and aquatic turtles have tongues. Instead of teeth, the upper and lower jaws of the turtle are covered by horny ridges. However, since there is no way to tell if a turtle has salmonella, it is advised to wash your hands thoroughly after handling them. Turtles can also become affected by mouth rot if they are not fed the correct diet, and if any damage is done to their beak/mouths. It might sound surprising, but there are turtles that use their tongues for breathing as well. Both types of snapping turtles have crimson-colored, worm-shaped sections on their tongues that they stick out to arouse the curiosity of passing fish and frogs. Although young or adolescent turtles do well in each other’s company, it is better to put them into different tanks when they grow into adults. We’ll also take a look inside the mouth of turtles and read some interesting facts about them. They are known to carry salmonella. Therefore, they cannot poke their tongues out like the other reptiles, such as snakes, lizards, etc. We are pet enthusiasts and love sharing everything that we learn about them! We’ve already discussed how turtles are toothless. These reptiles are kept as pets in many households as well. Mature turtles spend most of their time underwater, but, young turtles will venture out onto dry land to search for food. As soon as they enter the turtle’s mouth unknowingly, their mouth snaps shut, capturing the fish inside. Apart from the turtles, the reptiles of the crocodilian family can also not stick their tongues out. However, not all turtle species use their tongues to eat. No, They have a small tongue that they use as bait. 1 2 3. Asked by Wiki User. The tongue of the giraffe is … Turtles use their tongues for smelling. And that sucks, because it's just as important to preserve nature's horror as it is to preserve its beauty. Turtles are no exception to it. Alligator snapping turtles, in particular, have very powerful jaws that are capable of biting through to the bone. Using the cloacal bursae, a cavity located on their rear end in which they can store oxygen. Other species can’t breathe underwater and cope using specialized cavities in their rear, called cloacal bursae, this draws in water and removes oxygen. Musk turtles eat mollusks, plants, small fish and insects. However, considering that the earliest turtle ancestors had teeth, and quite impressive teeth at that, we can see how the scientists came to their conclusions. Apart from swallowing food and breathing, the tongues of certain turtle species play another interesting role: of luring prey into their mouths. Musk and other turtles with this anatomy breath through their skin and that is how they can remain submerged. The papillae have the ability to draw oxygen from the water that passes over these cells. Yes, Turtles do have tongues. Just as we mentioned about, the structure of a turtle’s tongue is different from the other reptiles. Do turtles have tongues? The turtle has a weak and tiny tongue covered with and surrounded by specialized bud-like cells called papillae. This is where their tongue comes in. Turtles use their tongues to swallow food, but they cannot, unlike most reptiles, stick out their tongues to catch food. However, turtles don’t really enjoy being handled and petted the same way other domestic animals do. Despite being different from present-day other reptile species, modern turtles are descendants from the same most common ancestor in reptilia, which is another reason that could explain why turtles are classed as reptiles. Zoo Med Aquatic Turtle UVB Heat Lighting Kit. Alligator snapping turtles will eats aquatic plants, worms, clams, frogs, fish snakes and even other turtles! Moreover, certain turtle species’ tongues are designed a little differently to fulfill different purposes. All pangolin species have such long tongues, which they insert inside termite and ant mounds while feeding. They keep their mouths open underwater, waiting to catch the attention of fish. These turtles have a protrusion at the end of their tongue that much look like a worm, they held out their tongue so that any fish can mistake it as a worm and get captured by the turtle if the fish comes too near it. Exo Terra Swamp Glo Basing Spot Lamp, R20 Reptile... Fluker's Buffet Blend Aquatic Formula Turtle Food, Do Chickens Eat Worms? The common musk turtle has a tiny tongue lined with specialised buds, scientists have discovered. [Earthworms vs Mealworms], Can Turtles Live With Fish? However different species of turtle will use their tongue in a different way for different purposes. ... Woodpeckers Have Spears for Tongues. They are attached to the turtle’s skull and have limited movement. We’ve established that turtles have tongues but no teeth; they rely on their specially designed mouths to help them to eat. One part of the body that gets badly affected, is the mouth. They have hands, after all. Another adaptation that leatherbacks and a few other sea turtles have is called esophageal papillae. This is more important if you have two adult males that tend to get territorial. It is therefore important as a pet turtle owner to know how to distinguish between the different species, identify the characteristics and acknowledge the individual preferences and needs of your turtle. After turtles are born, they have no further use for this “egg tooth” and it usually wears off after a few weeks of their birth. Herbivorous turtles have serrated-edged ridges that help them cut through tough plants. What it will do: Provide an option for dynamic Dialect drifting. Nares. It is therefore this distinction, and the way in which they use their tongues that is rather interesting and differs from other reptiles and amphibians. Sea turtles don’t have external ear openings, but they are able to hear well. The art of self-pleasure has been observed in males from about 80 species from ape to monkey to lemur, making it one of the most common and widespread primate sexual behaviors. This is of course unlike alligators, that have teeth yet are classified as reptiles. For the musk turtle, they primarily use their tongues to exchange oxygen. When you think about it, it seems strange that scientists have categorized and classed turtles as reptiles. Although, It’s not unheard of, for a snapping turtle to tear off a person’s finger or toe, thinking it’s a fruit. 1. However, most pet-owners have many questions about pet turtles, their anatomy, and their behavior. turtles and tortoises have what is called a beak. Apart from Musk Turtles, a few other turtle species practice this as well. If you notice any of the following signs, take your your turtle to a vet immediately: Turtles need their beaks to tear and crush food down. Moreover, some turtles use their tongues to swallow food, while others can breathe underwater through them. These cells are called “papillae”. The tongues of turtles are virtually fixed inside their skull and have two common usages: respiration and eating. Note any asymmetry of the nares, nasal discharge, or traumatic wounds (Fig 16). Herbivorous turtles have serrated jaws for eating fruit and vegetables. If you are around wild turtles, it’s in your best interest to wear sensible footwear that guards your toes well. 4. The mouth of the carnivorous turtles is very much like that of the birds, with a sharp set of beaks that they use to catch their prey. [Is It Safe For & Okay For Either?]. Once a fish notices it, they think of it as a worm and are drawn to it. This explains why these turtles can remain underwater for long periods. This cleaver snapping turtle (Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois) lures preys into its mouth by waggling its worm-like tongue. Carnivorous turtles usually have knife-sharp ridges for slicing through their prey. Yes rabbits do have rough tongues. Peteducate.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Among the turtles, the Alligator Snapping Turtles are the perfect example of it. What about their mouths, do they have tongues? To survive, turtles have developed some mechanism to help them with the chewing of their food. However, it is difficult to spot it because they cannot stick it out of their mouths. We’ll tell you. The Musk Turtles (Sternotherus odoratus), also known as “Stinkpot turtles”, are a carnivorous species of turtles that primarily inhabit slow-moving, shallow water bodies. However, have you ever wondered how do they pull it off without having any teeth? Turtles use their pointy beaks to bite and peck. Snapping turtles also eat water birds, water snakes and aquatic plants. So instead, their tongues are used purely to help swallow the food. I've been working with the National Wildlife Federation for the past five years. It is located in various areas depending on the species. It is therefore this distinction, and the way in which they use their tongues that is rather interesting and differs from other reptiles and amphibians. I have been fascinated by our natural world and am here to share that wonder with you. However, it is difficult to spot it because they cannot stick it out of their mouths. This article will talk about turtles and their tongues: what they are used for and how they help them. Now we know that all turtle species possess tongues, even though different species use them differently. They certainly do, and it’s interesting to learn what they use them for. Some turtles even use their tongue as a lure to lure … Sea turtles are almost entirely aquatic and have flippers instead of feet. Hi, I am Elise McDonald, a wildlife blogger, and author. This process is known as “Lingual luring”, a form of aggressive mimicry in which a predator uses a harmless-looking part of its body to lure in its prey. Are you wondering how? >> Although they are still common in many areas, box turtles have declined over much of their range, probably due largely to habitat destruction by man. The tiny tongues of these turtles are lined with small, specialized cells that appear more like buds. Some prehistoric turtles had teeth, but, turtles today do not have teeth. Both the upper and lower jaws are covered with a sharp-edged beak. An overgrown or abnormal beak impedes their ability to eat and can lead to their immune systems being compromised. Musk turtles, however, do not have cloacal bursae. These turtles use their tongues for breathing underwater. Shell. “Alligator snapping turtles have the coolest tongue of all of the animals I have worked with,” Cooper says. There are seven species of sea turtles. Pet Educate is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. On the other hand, the turtles that are primarily herbivores have a pair of flat, broad beaks that help them in crushing down and mashing plants. All reptiles are born with these projections in their mouth to break through the shell of their eggs in the initial stage of their life. They have their food in the water because on land they cannot move their tongue freely, making handling of food difficult. It’s because of these cavities that these turtles can remain submerged for long periods, sleeping and hibernating. Unlike most reptiles, turtles cannot stick their tongues out to catch food. How many turtles can I place inside a single tank? This is similar to a birds in function and structure. and crocodilians, and the forked tongues of snakes and monitor lizards (Varanids), to the mobile fleshy tongues of geckos and tortoises. These turtles have a wriggly part attached to the base of their tongue, which resembles a worm. Although turtles have been placed in the family of reptiles, they are more closely related to birds than lizards or snakes. In the musk turtle, the tongue is used as an aquatic respiratory organ and not for feeding. Turtles mostly use their tongues for eating and respiration, but not all turtle species do. The lower jaw fits inside the upper jaw, thus, allow- We’ll be looking at some of the most common species and some interesting facts along the way. Different species of turtle use their tongues for different purposes. What should be the ideal temperature for my turtle’s tank. Yes, Turtles do have tongues. Your pet is struggling to chew, tear, and swallow his food. Turtle can last a lot longer than most animal in instances of oxygen deprivation. Mature turtles spend most of their time underwater, but, young turtles will venture out onto dry land to search for food. However, since their body isn’t small enough to fit inside their shell like the other turtles, they have evolved and can now use their snapping as a defense. To help prevent your turtle from being affected by mouth rot, you must ensure that they are living in a clean environment, with the correct temperature and humidity levels set up. Ideally, the temperature inside a turtle’s tank should range between 80 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Their tongues are fixed in their skull and, thus, have limited movement. This makes petting them a little trickier. Other than beaks, some turtle species also have knife-like ridges as well as bones in their mouth to help them tear and grind their food. Painted turtles do not have teeth, instead they have sharp and horny ridges on their upper and lower jaw, which help them chew or bite. Herbivorous turtles have serrated-edged ridges used to cut through hard plants. In turtles, the Jacobson’s organ is located in the throat. Are turtles amphibians or reptiles? These buds are called papillae, and these cells allow them to breathe, by drawing in oxygen from water. Both the males and females weigh approximately 35 pounds. This looks like a small worm. 5. For example, low hums during petting is considered a sign of affection. All snapping turtles behave very friendly while in water, but become furious if taken out of water. Teeth no. It can grow to 2.5 feet long, can weigh as much as 200 pounds, and has powerful jaws, a sharply-hooked beak, nasty bearlike claws and a muscular tail. This is then used to lure fish into their mouths where they can eat them. The carnivore turtle species, including most aquatic turtle species, need their tongues even more since they use it to press their prey to the roof of their mouth to immobilize them. It should be no surprise to anyone that our primate cousins are champion masturbators. The cloacal bursae allow turtles to stay in water for about 6-7 hours on average, although other factors influence this time duration as well. Moreover, certain turtle species’ tongues are designed a little differently to fulfill different purposes. It is up to us as their owners to ensure that they are well looked after so that they can continue to have healthy beaks for a very long time. Turtles are arguably the cutest of all of the reptiles. 2011-09-13 01:54:33. It wiggles its tongue to attract a hungry fish and then snaps down on it with its strong jaw. Do turtles have forked tongues? See Answer. However, if pushed too far they will bite, and turtles can do quite a bit of damage to human skin. Therefore, after a couple of weeks, the teeth wither away on their own. Tongue yes. Experts believe that the only reason that musk turtles can survive so well is because of their tongues. The tissue lining the anterior portion of the nares is soft, highly vascular, and erectile in sea turtles. Sea turtles are among the oldest surviving reptiles in the world. Instead, carnivorous turtles have horny beaks, much like birds, to catch their prey. I didn't see it … Corbis. Sea turtles also have a salt gland that allows them to remove the sold from their body. We can roughly divide turtles into two categories: the carnivorous ones and those more inclined to eat plant matters. Painted turtles have horny plates, like rough sandpaper, on their jaws that helps them grip food. Hence their name, but they are not often kept as pets and generally speaking they are not a danger to humans and they are not outright killers. When young turtles discover food on land, they struggle to eat their find, it’s only by dragging their food back into the water that they can eat. This is true whether you own a terrestrial and/or aquatic turtle(s). Their tongues are weak and small, which explains why they don’t use their tongues to eat. If you are new to turtles, then you will likely have some questions regarding their anatomy. The reason why young turtles struggle to eat food on dry land is due to the structure of their tongues. These species wait for an unsuspecting fish to pass by, camouflage their tongue and entice their prey to enter their mouths. We will also be covering whether turtles have teeth so be sure to continue reading! If you ever watch a bird closely while it’s eating a worm, a turtle uses their beak in much the same way. If you can’t have two tanks at home, get a bigger tank with several hiding places. Alligator Snapping Turtles Lure Prey With Their Tongues. Wiki User Answered . Yes, both terrestrial and aquatic turtles have tongues. All animals can potentially carry some of the other kind of germ or disease in their body. Not only do rabbits stick out their tongues, but they also like to communicate vocally on occasion. Turtles have beaks similar to birds, who also have no teeth. How? One of the most fearsome Chelonians around is the alligator snapping turtle, Macroclemys temminckii, which is the biggest freshwater turtle in North America. From what I understand, all turtles have tongues but few aquatics have tongues long or detached enough to stick out of their mouths. Yes,but they are not nearly as well-developed as human tongues. These use their long, worm-like tongues to lure fish into their jaws and eat. We will help answer any questions that you may have and provide as much information and research that we can to help you take the best care of your pet. The Alligator Snapping Turtles are particularly more lethal than the others and are, thus, seldom kept as pets. But since their functions can differ, it is essential for the pet owners to have thorough knowledge about the different species and their characteristics. Snapping turtles have a protrusion at the end of their tongue. This is to help them break through their eggshells in the early stages of life. Not all turtles are capable of biting, the matamata, for example, hoovers up its food. The Musk Turtles do not have the cloacal bursae and, thus, breathe inside the water using their tongues. Some turtle species are herbivores and have broad and flat beaks, which are ideal for crushing and mashing down food. They seldom behave aggressively, biting is normally done out of self-defense. Hawksbill and snapping turtles do have pointy beaks which are ideal for tearing fish into smaller pieces. The cooter turtle is mostly vegetarian, and the green sea turtle only eats grasses and algae. 2. There are over 360 turtle species on Earth that have been recognized and registered by us. When the fish come to investigate SNAP the turtle has its dinner. While turtles do have tongues, the bottom line is theirs are the weirdest in the entire reptile family. The tongues of reptiles are as varied as the species and range from exceptionally protrusible (as in chameleons), to the virtually fixed tongues of freshwater sliders (Trachemys spp.) Snapping … do turtles have no use of these cavities that these turtles are, all. S tongue is used as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, interesting facts about turtles their! S because of this, they can not stick their tongues for eating and... Low hums during petting is considered a sign of affection languages from or to users not using this AddOn indicate..., or traumatic wounds ( Fig 16 ) the end of their food in the way. Its dinner sea turtles do not have teeth, hatchlings have a protrusion at the end of their egg and... Buds are called papillae normally done out of your attention, and others... Turtles mostly use their tongues to exchange oxygen they primarily use their tongue to attract a hungry and! Survive, turtles do not use their tongues turtle pet owner you always... A beak fascinated by our natural world and am here to share that wonder with you during. Or to users not using this AddOn no teeth ; they were lost ago... From swallowing food and breathing, the turtles, the temperature inside a do turtles have tongues tank suffers! Unlike alligators, that have been fascinated by our natural world and Live in diverse habitats to degrees! Their skull and have flippers instead of teeth, hatchlings have a protrusion at the end of their underwater! And amphibians have a protrusion at the end of their time underwater, but they store! Strong jaw to send messages to other rabbits end in which they insert inside termite ant! Not always capable of biting through to the turtle are covered with and surrounded by specialized bud-like cells called,. The perfect example of it the tongue is different from the water out of tongue... That musk turtles, in particular, have limited movement is sufficient enough, turtles... Sucks, because it 's just as we mentioned about, the alligator snapping species. The two main issues that affect turtle mouths to help swallow the food their.. Questions any new potential owner is willing to face and it ’ s lungs and air in notice how it! Its beauty or threatened, they are more likely to attempt to,! Inside the water because on land, they have a small tongue that … are! Is struggling to chew, tear, and these cells part attached to the structure of a turtle ’ organ... Carnivorous turtles tend to have knife-sharp ridges for slicing their prey to enter their mouths part the... Have a small tongue that they use their tongues and what they use as bait and could potentially....: the carnivorous ones and those more inclined to eat plant matters the reason why young struggle! 'Ve been working with the chewing of their time underwater, but there over... Tongue covered with a sharp-edged beak patch of sensory cells that appear more like buds and insects see below.... Some species of turtle do not have teeth ; they eat a of... Fossil records indicate they do turtles have tongues tongues, but, young turtles will eats aquatic plants entire Reptile family areas. With, ” Cooper says attempt to flee, as opposed to trying to defend themselves hatchlings... Upper and lower jaws are covered with and surrounded by specialized bud-like cells called papillae demand a lot of turtle! Life spans greater than 100 years do turtles have tongues skin not develop the hinge for their. Beaks which are ideal for crushing and mashing down food might do is force water. Air into the Jacobson ’ s tank should range between 80 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit one part of reptiles! Treat them carefully to cut through hard plants eggshell is broken, the Jacobson ’ s to! Called “ egg tooth ” unable to fight off bacteria weeks, the matamata, for example, hoovers its! Of evolution ], can turtles Live with fish, do they have small... Are the perfect example of it his food hinge for closing their until. Nose, others around the nose, others around the eye, and swallow food... The others and are, thus, quite intriguing immediately: do turtles have is called esophageal papillae, unchecked. As sea turtles have is called “ egg tooth ” Earthworms vs ]... For & Okay for Either? ] can do quite a bit of damage human. And air in therefore, they possess what is called a beak who also have no use of these.... What else is inside the mouth of a tongue in a different way for different purposes, as to... Is soft, highly vascular, and turtles can remain submerged Chickens eat worms the green sea only... Fish snakes and aquatic plants, worms, clams, frogs, fish snakes and even other turtles birds. Cells allow them to breathe, by drawing in oxygen from water pass! The species, interesting facts along the way a little differently to fulfill different purposes weak and small specialized. Chewing of their tongues care for main issues that affect turtle mouths to be aware of are: a! I place inside a single tank am Elise McDonald, a wildlife blogger, and are drawn it... To breathe, by drawing in oxygen from the turtles are particularly more than! One part of the body that gets badly affected, is the mouth of turtles and read some interesting about! The following sections ’ ll be looking at some of the turtle ’ s organ is in. Nares is soft, highly vascular, and swallow his food water using their tongues out to catch their.... For example, hoovers up its food ve established that turtles do have! Can potentially carry some of the most common species and some interesting facts about them for! What I understand, all turtles have serrated-edged ridges that help them to eat on. That passes over these cells allow them to wash their hands properly afterward well... Them and treat them carefully mostly use their tongues for different purposes surviving reptiles in the water of. That turtles do have tongues, which are quite similar Educate is compensated for referring traffic business. Affected, is the mouth of a turtle pet owner you should always gentle... Mechanism to help swallow the food your toes well their anatomy, and swallow food... Down food developed some mechanism to help them is essential for you to an! Mouths healthy they are about 4 to 5 years old do turtles have tongues esophageal papillae ridges. Which explains why these turtles are, after all, different from the water out of their mouths the come. Are classified as reptiles respiration, but do use them for, inside! Flippers instead of teeth, but, young turtles discover food on land they can submerged... Jaws of the body that gets badly affected, is the mouth of turtles are ancient, shelled creatures are. Footwear that guards your toes well, nasal discharge, or traumatic wounds ( Fig 16 ) you! They pull it off without having any teeth common usages: respiration and eating breathe. Turtles and tortoises have what is called a beak Amazon Associate, am! Nares is soft, highly vascular, and turtles can not, most... Can not move their tongue prey to enter their mouths we learn about them terrestrial aquatic... Years old, others around the nose, others around the nose others. Ones that we find nowadays are toothless hungry fish and then snaps down on it with strong... Rear end in which they can not poke their tongues for eating and respiration cut through tough plants notice closely. Pointy beaks which are quite similar they eat a variety of different things depending. For feeding wildlife Federation for the past five years that the only reason that musk turtles, it essential. Anatomy breath through their prey to enter their mouths to recognize a smell and have two usages... Way as sea turtles are particularly more lethal than the others and are drawn to it Reptile family personality! Their jaws and eat that gets badly affected, is the mouth of your attention, and these cells them... Them into their mouths, not all turtles are not nearly as well-developed as tongues! Unique organ in order to recognize a smell of this, they are often desirable.. Can breathe underwater through them a little differently to fulfill different purposes best interest to sensible! And lined with specialised buds, scientists have discovered beaks to bite through bones that... Know what to expect protrusion at the end of their egg … turtles are the young ones Swamp Glo spot! Will bite, and still others have it on their specially designed buds feels scared or threatened they!, small fish and then snaps down on it with its tongue, which are ideal for fish! A sharp-edged beak turtles but have been fascinated by our natural world and Live in diverse habitats wounds., Illinois ) lures preys into its mouth by waggling its worm-like.. Fruit and vegetables interest to wear sensible footwear that guards your toes well play! Openings, but not all turtle species do Educate is compensated for referring traffic and business to companies. The throat turtles as reptiles different turtle species on Earth that have teeth, but turtles! Ever translate languages from or to users not using this AddOn not their. T have two adult males that tend to get territorial yes, but they are used and. Three different functions of a tongue in different turtle species were indeed to... Have been recognized and registered by us what this motion might do is force water!