AUSTIN, Texas — Dinosaurs are often shown baring teeth with tongues stretched out wildly, but as it turns out, it’s not an accurate depiction.

University of Texas at Austin researchers recently discovered dinosaurs could not stick their tongues out like lizards.

This discovery was made after comparing the bones of modern birds and crocodiles with those of their extinct dinosaur relatives.

“Tongues are often overlooked. But, they offer key insights into the lifestyles of extinct animals,” said lead author Zhiheng Li, an associate professor at the Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He conducted the work while earning his Ph.D. at the UT Jackson School of Geosciences.

Researchers now say dinosaurs' tongues were probably rooted to the bottom of their mouths like alligators.