What is the typical colour of a giraffe's tongue, which helps protect it from sunburn while the animal feeds on leaves high in trees?

Introduction / Context:
Giraffes are famous for their long necks and their ability to browse leaves from tall trees, especially acacia trees in African savannas. A lesser known but popular general knowledge fact concerns the colour of a giraffe's tongue. This unusual tongue colour is not only eye catching but also has a functional role related to the animal's feeding habits in strong sunlight. The question checks whether you remember what colour this tongue typically is.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The animal in question is the giraffe.
• The structure is its tongue, which is long and often exposed while feeding.
• The options include several colours: dark purplish black, bright red, pale pink, and light yellow.
• We assume the standard description of adult giraffe tongue colour from zoology and general knowledge sources.

Concept / Approach:
Giraffe tongues are typically dark coloured, often described as dark bluish or purplish black. This dark pigmentation is thought to provide protection against sunburn as giraffes spend long hours each day with their tongues extended while plucking leaves. A light pink or yellow tongue would be more vulnerable to ultraviolet damage. Therefore, among the given options, the colour that best matches scientific and popular descriptions is dark purplish black, not bright red, pale pink, or light yellow.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Visualise a giraffe feeding by extending its tongue to strip leaves from tall branches. Step 2: Recall that photographs and documentaries show the tongue as very dark, almost black or deep purple, rather than light or bright in colour. Step 3: Consider the functional aspect: a dark tongue can better resist damage from strong sunlight in open savanna habitats. Step 4: Compare the options and match this description with dark purplish black, which captures the typical appearance. Step 5: Reject the other colours because they do not fit either the visual evidence or the adaptive explanation for the giraffe tongue.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can think back to any clear image or video of a giraffe with its tongue visible. The tongue does not look pale pink like a human tongue or bright red like some bird beaks. Instead, it appears strikingly dark, sometimes described as blue black or purple black. Many quiz books and animal fact lists highlight this as a special characteristic of giraffes. This repeated description across visual media and written sources confirms that dark purplish black is the correct colour choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bright red is wrong because giraffe tongues are not vividly red like blood or some bird features. Pale pink is incorrect, as this would resemble a typical mammalian mouth interior but does not match giraffe tongues seen in reality. Light yellow is also wrong and does not reflect observed pigmentation. All these lighter or brighter colours would also offer less protection against ultraviolet radiation than a dark tongue, making them biologically less plausible for an animal that feeds with its tongue exposed to strong sun for long periods.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to assume that most animals have pinkish tongues like humans and many domestic animals, leading to a quick but incorrect choice of pale pink or bright red. Students who have not paid attention to pictures of giraffes may rely on such assumptions. Another mistake is to forget the functional link between pigmentation and sun protection. Keeping in mind that giraffes live in sunny open habitats and often expose their tongues helps you remember why a dark purplish black tongue makes sense and is the correct exam answer.

Final Answer:
The correct option is Dark purplish black, which is the typical colour of a giraffe's tongue and helps protect it from sunburn while feeding high in the trees.