An adult giraffe's tongue is how long?

Even though a typical giraffe neck can stretch as long as six feet, the giraffe's tongue usually measures 18-20 inches long. Why does a giraffe need such a long tongue? If you liked to eat acacia tree leaves like giraffes do, then you would understand. The acacia tree's tasty leaves are protected by very sharp thorns. The giraffe's long tongue allows it to reach the highest, tastiest leaves while avoiding the sharp thorns. Its tongue also features a thick, tough layer that protects it from being cut by the thorns. If a giraffe's tongue does get cut by a thorn, its extra-thick saliva has antiseptic properties that help it to heal quickly.