Which direction does a frog's tongue go when extended?

Question

I am trying to figure out how to draw a frog that is about to catch a fly. I am having trouble finding a photo online that shows whether the tongue curls down or up. Most of them show the tongue straight out or already having made contact with the bug. One animated cartoon showed it curled down. Any help would be appreciated.

I mean, does the tip of the tongue curl down or up. Thanks to the answers so far.

Answer 1

Well I have read that a frog's tongue actually is directed down its throat when not in use, this is becasue the base of the tongue is actually attached at the front of the mouth, this would give it a downward pointing orientation when inside the mouth, so it would only make sense that the tongue would be slightly upward when outside the mouth. You have to remember that it is not as soft and evolved as the tongue of a chameleon, the frog's tongue is somewhat more rigid.

Answer 2

But most of the time when a frog catches a fly its either to the side with its tongue hanging out, or straight up in the air. I've never seen a frog catch a fly with its tongue down other than in a tank with flies in it.

Answer 3

I would think it would curl up. That is unless the frog has some kind of sticky stuff on his tongue that the bug adheres to. Then his tongue would just stick out!!

Answer 4

they can curve their tongue in any direction but it is so fast hard to catch in a photo

edit: their tongue raps around their catch and curls back like a spring to crush the bugs so I would say that it curls upward to reflex that way