# Do sharks have tongues?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sharks-have-tongues/53835>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 9, 2001, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sharks-have-tongues/53835 "2001-02-09T20:47:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2001, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sharks-have-tongues/53835/1 "2001-02-09T20:47:33Z")

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I know I could easily look this up, but I prefer to ask here as to help spread the word… Do sharks have tongues? I am aware that the tongue is an extension of the esophagus, and sharks probably have to have an esophagus, but I was wondering if they have a traditional tongue (Jabberjaw did, but he was a cartoon)

punk snot dead,  
broccoli!

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**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sharks-have-tongues/53835/2 "2001-02-09T21:24:18Z")

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Yes. A shark’s tongue is a piece of cartilage called a basihyal.

Cites:  
[http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~bz050/tongue.html](http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~bz050/tongue.html)  
[http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/anatomy/Tongue.shtml](http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/anatomy/Tongue.shtml)

And, uh, could you explain what you mean about the tongue being an extension of the esophagus? You lost me on that one.

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**Author:** ![Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc8723/32.png) [@Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Lord_Davidson)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2001, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sharks-have-tongues/53835/3 "2001-02-09T21:45:23Z")

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It is my understanding that all fish (from agnatha, chondrichthyes, and osteichthyes) have immobile tongues on the bottom of their mouths, used for detecting chemicals in the water.

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**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2001, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sharks-have-tongues/53835/4 "2001-02-10T16:54:07Z")

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Sharks has tastebuds all over its mouth. The purpose of the tongue in some species is to help it eat, though in some, it’s immobile.

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**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2001, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sharks-have-tongues/53835/5 "2001-02-10T17:03:01Z")

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Yes, and the younger ones pierce them. 😃