Tongue Projection Mechanism in a Hydromantes Salamander
Mt. Lyell Salamander
Hydromantes platycephalus
Adobe Photoshop
April 2005
Hydromantes salamanders are lungless and live at high elevations. Their toes are adapted to gripping trecherous granite outcroppings and they can scrabble straight up granite walls.
When they go to capture their prey, their bodies stay still while their tongue skeleton is
shot out of their mouth much like a watermelon seed is shot by squeezing two fingers. Far reaching and quick (~20ms), these salamanders are some of the most amazing in the world.
Information adapted from http://autodax.net/feedingmovieindex by Stephen Deban