There is no descriptive information about morphology of the oropharyngeal cavity including tongue, palate, and laryngeal region in Corvidae family. This study not only presents the first definitive anatomical description of the structures in the oropharyngeal cavity of magpie and raven but also reviews and compares the scattered information on the morphology of the other avian species available in the literature. In this study, the organs of four birds (two magpies and two ravens) were used. The tongue in magpie and raven was considerably elongated and terminated with an oval-shaped apex. Although the lingual apex in the magpie was divided by fissure, no such bifurcation existed on that of raven. Lingual apex was quite distinctive in both species, and multiple acicular processes covered the apex. These occurrences on the tongue of magpie were replaced by thread-like processes as approaching the lingual body. In raven, these processes were mostly foliated, becoming longer toward the back of the lingua, and denser compared with raven. Moreover, we observed conical papillary crest, which was pointed backward and located between the lingual body and the radix of the tongue and pharyngeal conical papillae around the glottis and palate clefts in both species. There was a transversal fold separating the choanal cleft from the infundibular cleft in raven. Anatomy of the oropharyngeal cavity in the raven and magpie, which are the member of the same family, Corvidae, showed little differences and overall their oral morphological features were excessively similar.

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There is no definite information about the tongue morphology of blind mole rats owing to spreading of these animals to only a certain habitat. For this reason, we aimed to examine the morphological structure of the tongue by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in this species. In this study, the tongues of four blind mole rats were used and the morphology of its lingual surface, different types of papillae, their characteristics and topographical distribution was described. Three types of papillae (filiform, fungiform and vallate) and lingual prominence were observed. The dorsal surface of the tongue was covered by filiform papilla; and filiform papillae demonstrated the most numerous type of lingual papilla. Fungiform papillae were rounded in shape and randomly distributed particularly on the anterior and medial region. In addition, each fairly convex fungiform papilla was surrounded by a continuous circular pad like a crown. The two oval vallate papillae were situated symmetrically on the posterior region and obliquely to the median line of the tongue. The body of vallate papillae was surrounded by a continuous trench and mucosal folds. The lingual prominence between medial and posterior region and a transversal groove just in front of it were observed. Furthermore, a limited tuber and root based diet and gnawing have together resulted in similarity of the tongue of the rodent, giving it some characteristics typical of a herbivore and an insectivore.

This study represents the first definitive anatomical description of the tongue and lingual papillae of the pampas deer and compares the different information on the morphology of the other ruminant species available in the literature. In this study, the tongues of four adult and one fetal deer were used. The tongue was elongated with an oval or rounded apex. The filiform papillae on the lingual apex were smaller than the ones on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the lingual body. Two very thin secondary papillary projections were found to emerge from the bilateral sides of some filiform papillae. Spherical fungiform papillae were randomly distributed among filiform papillae on dorsal surface of the lingual body and ventral surface of the apex. More developed conical papillae were observed in the caudal half of the lingual torus, whereas the rostral half of the torus had smaller conical papillae. Each conical papilla included shallow longitudinal groove on its anterior surface and some conical papillae on the lingual torus had bifid sharp apices. On the caudal portion of the torus, we also observed a few fungiform papillae, which were larger than those located on the lingual body. There were no lenticular papillae on the lingual torus, and five to nine round or oval circumvallate papillae were situated on each caudolateral side of the lingual torus. Morphological features of the tongue in the pampas deer were more similar to wild ruminant species than they were to domestic species.

This research presents the first definitive anatomical description of the tongue and lingual papillae of the chital deer. In this study, tongues of five deer were used. The tongue was fairly elongated and terminated in oval apex. Cone‐shaped filiform papilla was composed of one larger main papilla and two smaller secondary papillae, which emerged from bottom of main papilla. Rounded fungiform papillae were randomly distributed on the body and torus, and some fungiform papillae were surrounded by evident groove. On the ventral surface, some of them had evident fossa on their surfaces. The lenticular papillae on the lateral and rostral side of the torus were smaller in length compared with ones localized on central region of the torus. Eleven to fourteen circumvallate papillae were situated on each caudolateral side of the torus. The circumvallate papillae were surrounded by a prominent gustatory groove and there were no annular pads surrounding the groove. Morphological features of the tongue of the chital deer were similar to some wild and domestic ruminants. In this regard; it is thought that this research will provide morphological contributions for deer species as there are not sufficient and detailed sources on species‐specific morphology in researches on Cervidae family.

This research aimed to reveal the general morphology and topographic distribution of lingual papillae, epithelial characteristics, mucosal structure, and glands with their mucin content in the sheep tongue, with consideration of species-specific characteristics. The tongues of ten sheep were analyzed for this purpose. Filiform and fungiform papillae existed within the borders of the ventral surface of the lingual apex. The majority of the filiform papillae had multiple secondary projections. Fungiform papillae were also seen on the lingual torus among lenticular papillae, as well as 6 to 10 circumvallate papillae arranged on its caudal border. The species-specific details of the general anatomical structure of the tongue were determined and, in general, the papillary organization in the sheep was similar to goats, while the papillary organization also was similar to features with deer species, specifically the filiform papilla from the mechanical papillae and fungiform papilla from the gustatory papillae. Neutral and weak sulfated mucins and N-acetyl sialomucins were located in seromucous glands, salivary duct epithelium and von Ebner's glands. Carboxylated acid mucins and N-acetyl sialomucins were not present in seromucous and von Ebner's glands. In seromucous glands, MUC1, MUC5AC and MUC6 localized only in epithelial cells of ducts, whereas MUC2 localized in both glandular and ductal epithelial cells. All MUCs were present in both von Ebner's glands and salivary ducts. We showed that this mucin composition, may serve as a physical barrier in the initial section of the digestive system. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

1. The aim of the study was to examine the morphology of the tongue and the histochemical features of the lingual salivary glands in this species. 2. The tongue was elongated, terminating in a rather sharp, dagger-like apex. On the surface of the tongue and situated between the body and root of the tongue, two rows of conical papillae, the sharp apices of which pointed towards the posterior part of the tongue, were observed. The keratinised epithelium lining the dorsal surface lacked typical gustatory papillae. However, it was observed that taste buds were present in the epithelium of the lingual body and root. The tongue was supported by a structure composed of hyaline cartilage, the paraglossum, which extended from the lingual root to the apex. Simple branched tubular glands, which were encapsulated by connective tissue, were embedded within the submucosa in the body (anterior salivary glands) and root (posterior salivary glands) of the tongue. It was observed that the secretion of the lingual glands contained neutral mucins, proteoglycans containing carboxylic acid, weak and strong sulphated groups, N-acetylated sialomucins, but lacked glycogen. 3. It was demonstrated that, the general morphological features, papillary distribution of the tongue and the histological structure of the mucosa epithelium and the supportive elements displayed similarity to those of other domestic avian species. It was also determined that, in view of the particular feeding types, in the partridge, the presence of the papillary crest was not correlated with diet.

Erdo gan, S., P erez, W. 2015. Anatomical and Scanning Electron Microscopic Characteristics of the Oropharyngeal Cavity (Tongue, Palate and Laryngeal Entrance) in the Southern Lapwing (Charadriidae: Vanellus chilensis, Molina 1782). -Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 96: 264-272.This investigation aimed to determine the morphological characteristics of the tongue, palate and laryngeal entrance of southern lapwing by gross anatomy and scanning electron microscopy. For this purpose, the organs of three birds were used as material. Numerous densely distributed acicular projections were found on the lingual apex. Papillary crest consisting of sharp conical papillae were observed between the body and root of the tongue. Conical papillae of the lateral border of the papillary crest were triangular in form, and other conical papillae of the papillary crest were shorter in form. There were no papillary projections or papillae on the smooth surfaces of the lingual body and radix. On the median part of the palate, larger conical papillae, which were directed caudally, also surrounded entrance of the choanal cleft. The transversal papillary rows of conical papillae were observed between the rostral and caudal parts of the choanal cleft and on the caudal border of the infundibular cleft. The laryngeal entrance was surrounded by smooth mucosa without conical papillae. However, in the caudal border of the glottic fissure, there was a conical papillary row formed by numerous conical papillae. There were no anatomical differences between female and male birds.