Do Fish Have Tongues?

Have you ever wondered if fish have tongues? You probably haven’t, but it’s an interesting thought to explore. Social media allows us to see the anatomy of different animals up close. For example, this Instagram post by @nik_oceanlife shows a sunfish up close. In the video, the sunfish appears to be moving something around in its mouth that looks like a tongue—but is it really a tongue? Read on to learn more about sunfish and whether fish actually have tongues.

About Sunfish

The sunfish in the video is one of the most distinct-looking fish in the world. Sunfish, or Mola mola, are found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide. They are recognizable for their flattened, yet upright bodies that seem to glide through the water. Their small heads hardly match their large, oval bodies, which makes them look quite interesting. Sunfish can grow to be quite large. They are among the heaviest bony fish, with adults weighing anywhere from 500 to 2,000 pounds. They often reach up to six feet in length—about the height of a human—though some individuals can grow even larger. When seen from afar in the ocean, they often look like a massive blob floating through the water.

Do Sunfish Have Tongues?

Sunfish, like most other fish species, do not have a true tongue, but they do have a similar structure. Their fused teeth form a beak-like structure for consuming prey, and their mouths often appear open because of their jaw shape. Inside their throats, they have pharyngeal teeth that help process food. So, while it may look like they have tongues, this is most likely not the case. However, most fish have a structure called the basihyal, which is a flat, bony cartilage plate inside the mouth. The basihyal supports the gills and helps process food after it is consumed. Unlike the true tongue found in humans, the basihyal only superficially resembles a tongue. This is the same structure that sunfish have, and it is most likely what you see in the video above.