Question

A client is rushing in with a chameleon that had its tongue ripped off. Which of the following statements are true?

1) The chameleon will likely learn to capture live prey by grabbing with mouth
2) Chameleon tongues are extremely vascular, so hemostasis will be critical
3) This mostly commonly happens when the client is feeding stockier insects like roaches

Answer 1

Chameleons can potentially adapt to capture live prey with their mouths if their tongues are ripped off, but this is a significant challenge. Hemostasis is crucial due to the high vascularity of chameleon tongues, and tougher insects like roaches could increase the risk of tongue injury.

Step-by-step explanation:

Chameleons are known for their long, sticky tongues that they use to capture prey. However, in the unfortunate event that a chameleon has its tongue ripped off, it faces significant challenges but can potentially adapt over time. Here are the truths about the situation:

• The chameleon could potentially learn to adapt to its new situation by capturing live prey with its mouth, though this would be less efficient and might require a change in its feeding strategy.
• Chameleon tongues are indeed extremely vascular. Therefore, if a chameleon's tongue is ripped off, achieving hemostasis, or stopping the bleeding, will be critical for the animal's survival.
• While it's not specifically mentioned in the provided information, it is imaginable that feeding a chameleon stockier, harder-to-catch insects like roaches could lead to more aggressive and potentially dangerous feeding attempts, which may result in tongue injuries.

Lizards rely heavily on their tongues for capturing prey, and a chameleon without its tongue would have to undergo significant behavioral changes to continue feeding effectively.