Here's a detailed look at how the hummingbird's tongue actually works:
1. Structure: The hummingbird's tongue is a highly specialised and elongated structure. It consists of two long, thin tubes that are formed by the fusion of the bird's mandibular and hyoid bones. These tubes are called the mandibles and the hyoid apparatus.
2. Rapid Movement: Hummingbirds have the ability to move their tongues at incredible speeds. They can extend and retract their tongues up to 20 times per second, making them one of the fastest tongue movements in the animal kingdom. This rapid movement is powered by special muscles attached to the hyoid apparatus.
3. Split Design: The hummingbird's tongue has a unique split design. The two mandibles are separated at the tip and form a tube-like structure. This split design allows the tongue to form a capillary tube, which creates a vacuum and enables the hummingbird to suck up nectar from flowers.
4. Capillary Action: When the hummingbird's tongue is extended and inserted into a flower, the split mandibles create a capillary tube. The capillary action in this tube generates a suction force that draws the nectar up into the bird's mouth. The hummingbird's tongue also has a brush-like structure on the tip, which helps to collect and guide the nectar into the mandibles.
5. Flicking Mechanism: The hummingbird's tongue is not only specialised for sucking up nectar, but it also serves as a probe. The bird can flick its tongue in a rapid motion, allowing it to explore deep inside flowers and reach nectar that is hidden in long corollas. This probing capability helps hummingbirds access a wide variety of nectar sources.
6. Flexibility and Adaptability: The hummingbird's tongue is incredibly flexible and adaptable, allowing it to feed from a diverse range of flowers. The length of the tongue varies among hummingbird species, enabling them to reach the nectar of different flower types. Some species have tongues as long as their bodies, allowing them to feed from long-tubed flowers.
In conclusion, the hummingbird's tongue is an extraordinary adaptation that is essential for the bird's survival. Its rapid movement, split design, capillary action, and probing capability allow the hummingbird to efficiently collect nectar from flowers. This remarkable feature demonstrates the incredible diversity and adaptation found in the natural world.
Here's a video link (0:00 - 0:30) showing the hummingbird's tongue in action:
[Video Link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5j_2g-o6j8&t=0s&ab_channel=BBC)
Note: The video starts with the hummingbird's tongue extended, and then it retracts and extends again.
