It is coated with a contact poison so that when the tongue hits someone it releases just enough poison to render the target unconscious. This poison is adaptive and has worked on everyone subjected to it no matter what species they were. ("A Constellation of Doubt") Their tongue is also prehensile and with practice can be used to grab things and even swing from overhangs. ("Lava's a Many Splendored Thing") Peacekeepers referred to the defense as a "Luxan apical attack" and noted that it left a mark on the victim. ("Error and Trial"