protractile
Able to protrude
Protractile describes a body part capable of being extended or thrust outward.
The term appears mostly in zoology: a protractile tongue (as in frogs or chameleons), protractile jaws (as in certain fish), protractile claws.
The opposite is retractile—capable of being drawn back in.
Able to be lengthened
- retractableAble to draw inward
- tongueOral muscle for taste
- proboscisElongated animal head appendage
- jawBone holding teeth
snout · tentacle · appendage · mouthpart · pharyngeal · chameleon · frog · aardvark
Increasing in reach
- telescopicExtending via nested tubes
- retractileAble to be withdrawn
- slidingMoving smoothly across surface
- articulatedHaving segments that bend
jointed · mechanism · hydraulic · pneumatic · actuator · piston · deployment · robotic
Fitting to new conditions
- preyAnimal being hunted
- captureTake into custody
- insectivoreOrganism eating bugs primarily
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
mechanism · evolution · morphology · strike · projectile · sticky · rapid · specialized
extensible
Able to be lengthened
- retractableAble to draw inward
- tongueOral muscle for taste
- proboscisElongated animal head appendage
jaw · snout · tentacle · appendage · mouthpart · pharyngeal · chameleon · frog · aardvark · anteater
extending
Increasing in reach
- telescopicExtending via nested tubes
- retractileAble to be withdrawn
- slidingMoving smoothly across surface
articulated · jointed · mechanism · hydraulic · pneumatic · actuator · piston · deployment · robotic · prosthetic
adaptation
Fitting to new conditions
- preyAnimal being hunted
- captureTake into custody
- insectivoreOrganism eating bugs primarily
foraging · mechanism · evolution · morphology · strike · projectile · sticky · rapid · specialized · feeding
protractileretractile
Able to be withdrawn
fixed · rigid · inextensible · immobile · stationary