Do giraffes have blue tongues?

Giraffes have dark-colored tongues that are sometimes described as blue or black. Smithsonian Magazine notes that some scientists believe the dark coloration protects against sunburns.

Sunburned tongues would be more of a concern for a giraffe than for other animals because their tongues are constantly exposed. Giraffes use their tongues to graze from trees, wrapping the organ around vegetation and pulling it into their mouths. Their prehensile tongues are very long, allowing them to reach the very tops of savannah trees. A length of 18 inches is not unusual. This is, of course, in addition to their great height, which can reach up to a record 19 feet tall.