Do You Know

On average, a chameleon's tongue is roughly twice the length of its body. In humans, that would be a tongue about 10 to 12 feet (about 3 to 4 meters) long.

Before it flicks out its tongue, a chameleon contracts the tubular muscle, which stretches the elastic tissue like a string on a bow, according to Anderson. The potential energy of these elastic tissues is what gives the chameleon tongue flick its oomph.

At zero to 60 mph in 1/100 of a second, their tongues accelerate the fastest and are the most powerful of any reptiles, birds, and mammals. It's believed the super burst of energy is a trade-off for the energy that would otherwise be used in moving their tiny bodies toward their prey.