Uploaded December 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Often overlooked, yet vital for life, the tongue is one of nature's most amazing machines. Get all the interesting tongue facts, trivia, and history here.
1.The average human tongue is about 3 inches long.
2.Tongue muscles are the only muscles in the body that work independent of the skeleton.
3. Californian Nick Stoeberl has the longest tongue ever recorded, 3.97 inches (10.1cm) long, measured from the tip of the extended tongue to the middle of the top lip.
Photo Credit: James Ellerker ? Guinness World Records
4.The human tongue works even while you're sleeping by pushing saliva down the throat.
5. The tube-lipped nectar bat has the longest tongue, in relation to body size, of any mammal.
6.Flamingos have erectile tissue in their tongues. When feeding, this tissue fills with blood and becomes rigid, which helps stabilize the birds' heads.
7. About 1/4 of the world's population are considered to be "supertasters," or people who have a heightened sense of taste, especially for bitter foods. Another 1/4 are considered to be "nontasters" who are less sensitive tasters.
8. Tongues can get fat. In fact, tongue weight is correlated with degrees of obesity.
9. Thomas Blackstone holds the record for the strongest tongue. He lifted a 24 lb. 3 oz. weight that was hooked through his tongue.
10. The hardest tongue twister in the English language is “The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep’s sick.”
For more amazing tongue facts, check out our article here: factretriever.com/tongue-facts
Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel here for more interesting facts about the world and beyond: youtube.com/channel/UCZxmYOAglFN29DPr7mEaDLQ
Often overlooked, yet vital for life, the tongue is one of nature's most amazing machines. Get all the interesting tongue facts, trivia, and history here.
1.The average human tongue is about 3 inches long.
2.Tongue muscles are the only muscles in the body that work independent of the skeleton.
3. Californian Nick Stoeberl has the longest tongue ever recorded, 3.97 inches (10.1cm) long, measured from the tip of the extended tongue to the middle of the top lip.
Photo Credit: James Ellerker ? Guinness World Records
4.The human tongue works even while you're sleeping by pushing saliva down the throat.
5. The tube-lipped nectar bat has the longest tongue, in relation to body size, of any mammal.
6.Flamingos have erectile tissue in their tongues. When feeding, this tissue fills with blood and becomes rigid, which helps stabilize the birds' heads.
7. About 1/4 of the world's population are considered to be "supertasters," or people who have a heightened sense of taste, especially for bitter foods. Another 1/4 are considered to be "nontasters" who are less sensitive tasters.
8. Tongues can get fat. In fact, tongue weight is correlated with degrees of obesity.
9. Thomas Blackstone holds the record for the strongest tongue. He lifted a 24 lb. 3 oz. weight that was hooked through his tongue.
10. The hardest tongue twister in the English language is “The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep’s sick.”
For more amazing tongue facts, check out our article here: factretriever.com/tongue-facts
Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel here for more interesting facts about the world and beyond: youtube.com/channel/UCZxmYOAglFN29DPr7mEaDLQ
