Morphological and kinematic study of the tongue and buccal cavity in the lizard Anguis fragilis (Reptilia: Anguidae)

Abstract

These observations suggest that following: 1) during tongue flicking the ventral surface of the tongue tips invariably makes contact with the substratum; 2) the microstructures of the tongue tips and the ridges of the anterior processes might be helpful for collecting and receiving, respectively, chemicals during tongue flicking; 3) the anterior processes may be apposed on the roof of the mouth next to the ducts of VNOs when the buccal floor is fully elevated; 4) due to their localization, the taste buds could be equally stimulated by the molecules transferred during tongue flicking.

Ultrastructural Studies on the Tongue of Some Egyptian Lizards 1-Scincine Lizards Chalcides Oscellatus and Chalcides Sepsoides (Lacertilia, Scincidae)

“…This is similar to the results reported in Eumeces schneideri [16], Gekko japonicas [17] and Anguis fragilis [29]. Keratinization of the dorsal lingual epithelium has been recognized in snake Elaph quadrivirgata [41], and in some turtles [20,[42][43][44].…”

“…These differences appeared in shape, size, number and distribution. This is in agreement with [26,29,45]. The lingual papillae of the anterior region of C. ocellatus are of two types, the most anterior region are smaller and have deep trenches with numerous secretory pores and the rest of the lingual papillae are larger with serrated and flattened ends oriented to the posterior direction while that of C. sepsoides appeared more compact, multiangular separated with narrow trenches.…”

“…According to [25][26][27][28][29] lizards showed different morphological and histological structures of the tongue among species in different habitats. The morphology of the tongue of both C. ocellatus and C. sepsoides is characterized by smooth and bifurcated distal portion followed by different typed of lingual papillae that are distributed in the anterior, middle and posterior lingual regions.…”

Comparative functional analysis of the hyolingual anatomy in lacertid lizards

“…The papillary structure in lacertids appears intermediate between the papillary structure observed in iguanians (agamids, iguanids, and chameleons; Fig. 8) (De la Serna de Esteban, 1965;Rabinowitz and Tandler, 1986;Delheusy and Bels, 1994;Herrel et al, 1998;Schwenk, 2000;Herrel et al, 2001) and that observed in other scleroglossan lizards such as anguinomorphs and scincids, where large parts of the tongue are covered by highly modified scale-like papillae (see Toubeau et al, 1994;Schwenk, 2000). The tongue in geckoes also plays an important role to clean the spectacles and this appears to be reflected in the smooth papillae found on mid-and hind-tongue regions (Fig.…”

“…Scleroglossans, on the other hand, generally have narrower, bifid, and elongated tongues that are extended out of the oral cavity only during tongue flicking and drinking (Bels et al, 1993;Toubeau et al, 1994;Cooper, 1995aCooper, , 1995bCooper, , 1997Schwenk, 1995). As sampling a large volume of air is important during tongue flicking (Gove, 1979;Schwenk, 1995), the extensibility and mobility of the tongue is considered of prime importance (Cooper, 1997).…”