Lizard Anatomy - Tongue

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You may have noticed that many lizards flick their tongues out of their mouths. Why do they do this? Simply put, they are smelling. When they flick their tongues out, small amounts of a materials 'scent' sticks to it, and then it is brought into their mouths. Lizards have an organ, called the Jacobson's organ, that help process the scent. The tissue of the organ 'absorbs' the scent, allowing the lizard to perceive the substance. Think about how a dog sniffs a lot when they are excited about food, for example.

After a lizard finishes eating, they will lick their lips to clean them. Most lizards use their tongue to drink as well, lapping up water drops, or even from a dish. Lizard tongues differ in shape and size, depending on the species.

Gecko Tongues

Geckos clean their eyes with their tongues, due to the fact that they lack eyelids.